RffiHESTER  SfiTIAL  CENTERS 

AND  civic  CLUBS 


STORY  OF 
THE  FIRST 
TWO  YEARS 


r 

t 
I 


^ 


"Sing  of  'The  Little  Old  Red  Schoolhouse  On  the  Hill'  and  in 
everybody's  heart  a  chord  trembles  in  unison.  As  we  hear  it's  witch- 
ing strains,  we  are  all  lodge  brethren,  from  Maine  to  California  and 
far  across  the  Western  Sea  ;  we  are  all  lodge  brethren,  and  the  air  is 
'Auld  Lang  Syne,  and  we  are  clasping  hands  across,  knitted  together 
into  one  living  solidarity.  It  is  the  true  democracy  which  batters 
down  the  walls  that  separate  us  from  each  other  —  the  walls  of  caste 
distinction,  and  color  prejudice,  and  national  hatred,  and  religious 
contempt,  all  the  petty,  anti-social  meanesses  that  quarrel  with 

UNION  OF  HEARTS.' 


We  are  all  of  one  blood,  one  bounden  duty;  all  these  anti-social 
prejudices  are  just  as  shameful  as  illiteracy,  and  they  must  disappear 
as  soon  as  ever  we  shall  come  to  know  each  other  well."  —  Eugene 
Wood  in  "Back  Home." 


"I  am  more  interested  in  -what  you  are  doing,  and  -what  it 
stands  for,  than  in  anything  else  in  the  world.  *  *  *  You 
are  buttressing  the  foundations  of  Democracy." 

— Governor  Charles  E.  Hughes, 

at  J^o.  14  Social  Center,  Mpril  8,  I9O9. 


ROCHESTER  SOCIAL  CENTERS 
AMD  Civic  CLUBS 


STORY  OF 
THE  FIRST 
TWO  YEARS 


t 
I 


PUBLISHED    BY 

THE   LEAGUE  OF   CIVIC  CLUBS 
1909 


T 


DEDICATION 

O  Governor  Hughes,  and  the  rest  of  jis,  who  recognize  the  spirit 
of  the  Social  Centers  and  Civic  Clubs  because  we  remember 
how,  back  home,  the  folks  used  to  get  together  in  the  school- 
house,  evenings,  for  spell  downs,  singing  schools  and  festivals,  where 
there  wasn't  any  difference  between  the  postmaster's  wife  and  the 
hired  girl,  because  the  women  took  their  hats  off;  and  how  the  men 
folks  got  together  there,  evenings,  and  decided  things,  by  free,  hon- 
est discussion — to  us  this  little  book  is  dedicated. 

And  to  us  who  don't  recognize  the  spirit  of  the  Social  Centers 
and  Civic  Clubs  as  that  which  we  knew  back  home,  since  we  have 
always  lived  in  the  city,  but  who  like  Social  Centers  and  Civic  Clubs 
just  the  same,  because  they  are  big  and  human  and  common  sense, 
because  they  give  us  a  chance  to  get  acquainted  with  our  fellows  and 
to  express  our  interest  in  the  common  good — to  us  this  little  book  is 
dedicated. 

And  to  us  who  haven't  yet  visited  the  Social  Centers  or  become 
acquainted  with  our  neighbors  in  the  Civic  Club  meetings  and  who 
don't  approve  of  Social  Centers  and  Civic  Clubs — because,  because, 
b  e  c  a  u  s  e — to  us,  most  of  all,  this  little  book  is  dedicated. 

These  three  groups  include  all  of  us  folks  here  in  Rochester  and 
that's  who  this  book  should  be  dedicated  to,  for  it  contains  a  story  of 
something  that  belongs  to  All  of  us. 


CONTENTS 

I.     THE  PRELIMINARY  MOVEMENT, 

1.  Organization  of  the  School  Extension  Committee. 

2.  Board  of  Education  Requested  to  Administer  Funds. 

3.  An  Appropriation  of  $5,000  Secured. 

4.  Other  Cities  Visited. 
II.     PLAN  OF  THE  WORK, 

1.  The  Spirit — That  of  the  Social  Activities  of  the  "Little 

Red  School  House  Back  Home." 

2.  Decision  to  Concentrate  in  One  District. 

3.  Xo.  14  School  Building  Chosen. 

4.  Equipment  of  the  Building. 

5.  Division  of  Time. 

6.  Appointment  of  Directors. 

III.  BEGINNING  OF  SOCIAL  CENTER  ACTIVITIES, 

1.  The  Opening  Evening. 

2.  Organization  of  Clubs, 

A.  In  the  Social  Center. 

B.  In  Other  School  Buildings. 

IV.  THE  FIRST  YEAR'S  RECORD, 

1.  Clubs, 

A.  Boys'  and  Girls'  Clubs. 

B.  Adult  Clubs. 

2.  Gymnasium. 

3.  Library. 

4.  General  Evenings. 

5.  Attendance. 

6.  Cost. 

V.     INDICATIONS  OF  THE  SUCCESS  OF  THE  FIRST  YEAR'S  EXPERI- 
MENT. 

VI.     PLANS  FOR  CONTINUANCE  AND  EXTENSION  THE  SECOND  YEAR. 
i.  Changes  in  Policy, 

A.  Exclusion  of  School  Children. 

B.  Single  Large  Clubs  instead  of  Many  Small  Ones. 

C.  Opening  Social  Centers  on  Sunday. 


1122090 


CONTENTS  — Continued 

2.  New  Equipment, 

A.  At  No.   14. 

B.  At  West  High. 

C.  At  No.  9. 

D.  At  Xo.  20. 

3.  Division  of  Time. 

4.  Appointment  of  Directors, 

A.  At  Xo.  14. 

B.  At  West  High. 

C.  At  Xo.  9. 

D.  At  Xo.  12,  Xo.  20  and  X'o.  36. 

VII.     BEGINNING  OF  ACTIVITIES  THE  SECOND  SEASON, 

1.  Civic  Clubs  Assemble  Before  Centers  Open. 

2.  Opening  of  Social  Centers. 

3.  Organization  of  Clubs, 

A.  In  the  Social  Centers. 

B.  In  other  School  Buildings, 

a.  Supervised. 

b.  Unsupervised. 

4.  Formation  of  the  League  of  Civic  Clubs. 
YIII.     THE  SECOND  YEAR'S  RECORD. 

1.  Clubs, 

A.  Boys'  Clubs. 

B.  Girls'  Clubs. 

C.  \Vomen's  Clubs. 

D.  Men's  Clubs. 

E.  Italian  Men's  Clubs. 

F.  League  of  Civic  Clubs. 

G.  Special  Clubs. 

2.  Gymnasium. 

3.  Library. 

4.  General  Evenings. 

5.  Attendance. 

6.  Cost. 

IX.     INDICATIONS  OF  THE  SUCCESS  OF  THE  EXPERIMENT  THROUGH 
THE  SECOND  YEAR. 


Rochester  Social  Centers 
and  Civic  Clubs 


It  is  impossible  to  find  an  exact  date  for  the  earliest  beginnings 
of  the  movement  which  culminated  in  the  opening  of  the  school 
buildings  as  Social  Centers  in  Rochester.  Ever  since  the  days  of  the 
Little  Red  School  House  there  has  been  in  this  city,  as  elsewhere,  a 
desire  for  such  a  common  meeting  place  as  that  fine  traditional  insti- 
tution afforded.  For  a  number  of  years  past  the  question  had  been 
discussed  in  the  meetings  of  various  organizations,  the  success  and 
service  of  Parent-Teachers'  Associations,  meeting  in  school  build- 
ings, cited,  and  the  sentiment  in  favor  of  Social  Centers,  expressed  in 
various  ways,  had  increased. 

i.     ORGANIZATION  OF  SCHOOL  EXTENSION  COMMITTEE. 

Finally,  on  February  I5th,  1907,  delegates  from  eleven  organiza- 
tions in  the  city — the  Central  Trades  and  Labor  Council,  the  Chil- 
dren's Playground  League,  the  College  Women's  Club,  the  Daugh- 
ters of  the  American  Revolution,  the  Humane  Society,  the  Labor 
Lyceum,  the  Local  Council  of  Women,  the  Officers'  Association  of 
Mothers'  Clubs,  the  Political  Equality  Club,  the  Social  Settlement 
Association  and  the  Women's  Educational  and  Industrial  Union, — 
met  in  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  formed  themselves  into  an 
association  to  be  known  as  the  "School  Extension  Committee." 
More  than  50,000  citizens  of  Rochester  were  represented  by  the 
members  of  this  Committee.  In  each  of  the  organizations  repre- 
sented, the  question  of  opening  the  school  buildings  as  Social  Cen- 
ters had  been  discussed  and  these  delegates  were  empowered  to  act 
for  their  organizations  in  seeking  to  get  an  appropriation  which 
would  make  it  possible  to  begin  the  work.  It  is  significant  of  the 
spirit  of  the  Social  Centers  that  their  beginning  was  not  the  result 
of  the  activity  of  any  one  person  or  group  of  persons.  The  School 


Extension  Committee,  which  did  not  go  out  of  existence  with  the  ac- 
complishment of  its  prime  object,  but,  with  the  addition  of  delegates 
from  several  other  organizations,  has  continued  as  the  present  Civic 
Betterment  Committee,  was  perhaps  one  of  the  most  widely  repre- 
sentative organizations  ever  yet  brought  together  in  Rochester  for 
any  public  movement. 

2.     BOARD  or  EDUCATION    REQUESTED  TO   ADMINISTER  FUNDS. 

The  meeting  of  the  School  Extension  Committee  on  Februarv 
1 5th  was  unanimous  in  the  desire  for  the  week  to  be  started  and  the 
time  of  that  first  meeting  was  devoted  to  a  discussion  of  the  ways 
and  means  of  accomplishing  the  object  of  the  association.  The  re- 
sult of  this  discussion,  as  stated  in  the  minutes  of  that  meeting,  was, 
"The  appointment  of  a  committee  to  ask  the  Board  of  Education  if 
it  would  be  willing  to  undertake  the  superintendence  of  this  social 
work  in  the  schools  provided  an  appropriation  of  city  funds  could 
be  obtained.  The  same  committee  was  empowered  to  make  any  plans 
necessary  to  promote  the  committee's  work."  This  subcommittee 
laid  the  matter  before  the  Board  of  Education  and  secured  the  con- 
sent of  that  body  to  administer  the  funds  which  might  be  appropriated. 


Thursday   "General  Evening"   Audience  at  West  High   Social   Center. 

3.     AN  APPROPRIATION  OF  $5,000  SECURED. 

Between  the  I5th  of  February  and  the  ist  of  March  much  work 
was  done  by  the  School  Extension  Committee  through  it's  subcom- 
mittee. The  result  of  that  work,  as  given  in  the  minutes  of  the  sec- 
ond meeting  of  the  School  Extension  Committee,  on  March  ist.  was 
as  follows :  "The  first  business  was  a  report  by  Mrs.  Porter  Farley 
detailing  the  visits  of  her  committee  to  the  City  Comptroller,  to  City 


Engineer  Fisher,  to  Mayor  Cutler  and  to  the  Board  of  Education. 
All  visits  were  cordially  received  and  resulted  in  the  insertion  in  the 
forth-coming  tax  levy  of  an  extraordinary  item  of  $5,000  to  begin 
School  Extension  work  experimentally.'-' 

At  this  meeting  the  matter  of  the  administration  of  the  work 
was  again  taken  up  and  a  motion  was  passed,  to  quote  from  the  min- 
utes, "That  it  is  the  sentiment  of  this  organization  that  the  School 
Board  should  have  charge  of  the  school  extension  work  inclusive  of 
adjoining  playgrounds."  It  was  also  suggested  at  this  meeting  that 
the  committee,  with  others  who  were  interested  in  the  Social  Center 
movement,  should  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Common  Council  at 
which  the  finance  committee  should  make  its  report  on  the  tax  levy, 
in  order  to  show  that  body  that  there  were  many  people  in  favor 
of  the  appropriation.  This  suggestion  was  carried  out  and  the  Com- 
mon Council  endorsed  the  recommendation  of  the  Finance  Commit- 
tee and  appropriated  the  $5,000,  which  was  asked,  for  the  beginning 
of  this  work. 

4.     OTHER  CITIES  VISITED. 

The  money  having  been  appropriated  and  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion put  in  control  of  its  administration,  the  next  step  was  the  selec- 
tion of  a  supervisor  of  the  work.  It  had-  been  decided  that  the  fund 
of  $5,000  should  cover  not  only  the  expenses  of  the  equipment  and 
maintenance  of  the  Social  Center  work  for  the  first  year,  but  should 
also  cover  the  cost  of  completing  the  equipment  of  the  playground 
at  No.  14  School  and  that  at  Xo.  36,  and  maintaining  these  two 
grounds  through  the  season,  also  the  cost  of  the  out  of  door  Grammar 
School  Athletics  and  the  expense  of  maintaining  one  Vacation  School 
chrough  the  summer.  It  was  decided  that  all  of  this  work,  excepting 
the  direct  charge  of  the  Vacation  School  should  be  placed  under  the 
supervision  of  one  man.  It  was  necessary  that  this  man  should  not 
only  have  had  experience  in  playground  and  athletic  work,  but  should 
also  have  practical  acquaintance  with  the  experience  of  other  cities  in 
the  development  of  Social  Centers.  In  June  a  supervisor  was  chosen. 
He  was  experienced  in  playground  and  athletic  work  and  in  order  to 
become  acquainted  with  the  Social  Center  work  in  other  cities,  he  vis- 
ited Chicago  and  there  made  a  careful  investigation  of  the  great  South 
Park  system  with  its  playgrounds  arid  municipal  centers  on  which  the 
city  of  Chicago  spent  $6,000,000  in  two  years.  Later  in  the  season 

9 


Wrestling    Has    Been    Popular    in    Each    of   the    Centers. 

he  spent  a  week  in  visiting  the  Recreation  Centers  and  studying  the 
great  Public  Lecture  system  in  New  York  City  and  the  other  exten- 
sions of  Public  School  activity,  which  cost  that  city  more  than  $200,- 
ooo  a  year.  He  came  back  from  the  investigation  of  the  work  done 
elsewhere  firmly  convinced  that  the  City  of  Rochester  should  not  fol- 
low the  lines  of  the  work  done  in  either  New  York  or  Chicago,  but 
should  profit  by  the  experience  of  both  of  those  cities,  mark  out  a  new 
path  for  itself,  and  that  so  it  might  make  a  real  contribution  to  the 
progress  of  municipal  development. 


"I  must  stand  with  any- 
body that  stands  right;  stand 
with  him  while  he  is  right 
and  part  with  him  when  he 
goes  wrong." 

— Lincoln. 


10 


II 

PLAN   OF  THE  WORK 

The  Social  Center  Movement,  being  in  its  nature  absolutely 
democratic,  has  been  free  to  develop  in  actual  realization  whatever 
phases  the  needs,  desires  and  good  sense  of  the  community  might 
choose.  And  some  of  its  greatest  features,  such,  for  instance,  as  the 
independent  Civic  Club  development,  have  been  quite  spontaneous  and 
not  at  all  prearranged.  Yet  in  the  great  essentials  of  plan  and  policy 
there  has  been  no  change  from  the  beginning. 

i.     THE  SPIRIT— THAT  OF  THE  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES  OF  THE  "LITTLE 
RED  SCHOOL  HOUSE  BACK  HOME." 

On  July  5th,  1907,  a  joint  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Education 
and  the  School  Extension  Committee  was  held.  At  this  meeting  the 
whole  matter  of  the  policy  of  the  Social  Centers  was  thoroughly  dis- 
cussed and  the  plans  of  the  work  were  definitely  laid.  In  that  meeting 
it  was  decided  that  the  spirit  which  should  be  striven  for  in  the  So- 
cial Centers  should  be  the  democratic,  friendly  spirit  of  broad 
acquaintanceship,  which  made  ''The  Little  Red  School  House"  in  the 
country  the  fine  community  gathering-place  that  it  was.  About  this 
time  there  appeared  in  one  of  the  magazines  an  article  upon  the  even- 
ing uses  of  the  school  house  in  a  village  community.  In  that  article 
the  kindly  neighborhood  spirit  wThich  was  developed  in  these  school 
house  meetings,  social  and  political,  was  described.  In  connection 
with  this  description  the  author  asserted  that  there  is  no  such  spirit 
of  community  interest,  no  such  neighborly  feeling,  no  such  democracy 
as  the  village  had,  in  any  American  city,  and  that  there  never  can  be 
such  a  spirit  of  community  interest,  such  a  neighborly  spirit,  such 
democracy,  until  some  institution  is  developed  in  the  midst  of  our 
complex  city  life  in  which  people  of  all  races,  classes  and  parties  shall 
find  a  common  gathering  place,  a  common  means  of  acquaintance,  an 
opportunity  to  learn  to  think  in  terms  of  the  city  as  a  whole — until 
there  is  developed  an  institution  which  shall  serve  the  people  in  the 
city  as  the  Little  Red  School  House  served  the  folks  back  home. 

The  author  of  that  article  had  apparently  no  knowledge  of  the 
Social  Center  movement  projected  in  Rochester,  and  no  member  of 

11 


either  the  JJoard  of  Education  or  the  School  Extension  Committee 
had  read  that  article,  and  yet  it  was  an  exact  expression  of  the  spirit 
of  the  Social  Center  as  it  was  planned  in  that  meeting  on  July  5th, 
1907. 


Social   Evening   at   No.    14    Center — Men's   and   Women's    Clubs   Together. 

The  Social  Center  was  not  to  take  the  place  of  any  existing  insti- 
tution, it  was  not  to  be  a  charitable  medium  for  the  service  particularly 
of  the  poor :  it  was  not  to  be  a  new  kind  of  evening  school ;  it  was  not 
to  take  the  place  of  any  church  or  other  institution  of  moral  uplift ; 
it  was  not  to  serve  simply  as  an  "Improvement  Association"  by  which 
the  people  in  one  community  should  seek  only  the  welfare  of  their 
district ;  it  was  not  to  be  a  "Civic  Reform"  organization,  pledged  to 
some  change  in  city  or  state  or  national  administration ;  it  was  just 
to  be  the  restoration  to  it's  true  place  in  social  life  of  that  most  Amer- 
ican of  all  institutions,  the  Public  School  Center,  in  order  that  through 
this  extended  use  of  the  school  building,  might  be  developed,  in  the 
midst  of  our  complex  life,  the  community  interest,  the  neighborly 
spirit,  the  democracy  that  we  knew  before  we  came  to  the  city. 

It  was  decided  at  that  meeting  that  the  Social  Center  should  pro- 
vide opportunities  for  physical  activity  by  means  of  gymnasium  equip- 
ment and  direction,  baths,  etc. :  opportunities  for  recreation,  in  addition 
to  those  which  the  gymnasium  would  offer,  by  the  provision  of  various 
innocent  table  games ;  opportunities  for  intellectual  activity  by  the  pro- 

12 


vision  of  a  library  and  reading  room  and  by  the  giving  of  a  lecture  or 
entertainment  at  least  once  each  week.  While  the  essentially  demo- 
cratic, intimately  social  service  of  the  Centers  should  be  gained 
through  the  opportunities  offered  for  the  organization  of  self-govern- 
ing clubs  of  men,  of  women,  of  boys  and  of  girls. 

The  use  of  the  Social  Centers  for  free,  untrammeled  discussion 


Monday  Evening  Meeting  of  the  West  High  Center  Men's  Civic  Club. 

of  public  questions  was  carefully  considered  and  the  fact  was  cited 
that  the  School  Extension  Committee  had  already  gone  over  this  mat- 
ter and  had  passed  a  motion  that  "The  committee  should  insist  upon 
the  free  use  of  the  school  buildings  chosen,  for  neighborhood  meetings, 
even  politics  and  religion  not  being  tabooed."  And  this  was  decided 
as  the  rule  that  should  maintain  because  such  freedom  was,  of  course, 
essential  to  the  development  of  an  institution  which  shall  serve  the 
people  in  the  city  as  the  Little  Red  School  House  served  the  folks  back 
home. 

2.     DECIDED  TO  CONCENTRATE  IN  ONE  DISTRICT. 

The  School  Extension  Committee  had  planned  that  the  work 
should  be  carried  on  in  several  school  buildings  during  the  first  year. 
When,  however,  it  was  decided  that  the  money  appropriated  for  this 

13 


work  should  cover  the  expense  of  Playgrounds,  Vacation  Schools  and 
Grammar  School  Athletics  and  that  only  a  part  of  it  should  be  devoted 
to  Social  Centers,  it  was  seen  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  com- 
pletely equip  more  than  one  building'  and  the  question  was  up  for  deci- 
sion as  to  whether  the  plan  should  be  tried  out  in  one  Center  com- 
pletely equipped  and  open  every  night  in  the  week  or  whether  the  work 
should  be  partially  begun  in  several  school  buildings.  After  consider- 
ing the  various  phases  of  the  question,  it  was  decided,  in  the  meeting 
of  July  5th,  to  concentrate  in  one  building  and  at  the  same  time  to 
make  tentative  beginnings  of  club  work,  without  special  equipment, 
perhaps  one  night  each  week  in  a  couple  of  other  buildings. 

3.     Xo.  14  SCHOOL  BUILDING  CHOSEN. 

To  prevent  the  Social  Center  being  regarded  at  its  beginning  as 
either  a  "kid  glove''  or  a  charitable  institution,  or  anything  less  than 
a  return  to  the  country  Schoolhouse  idea  of  a  common  gathering  place 
for  all  sorts  of  people,  it  was  decided  that  the  first  building  to  be 
chosen  should  be  in  as  representative  a  district  as  possible,  one  in 
which  neither  the  wealthy  nor  the  poverty  stricken  predominated,  one 


No.    14   School  Building,  the  First  To   Be  Opened  as  a  Social   Center   in   Rochester. 

14 


in  which  there  were  both  native  and  foreign  born  Americans,  one  in 
which  the  wide  diversity  of  city  life  was  well  illustrated.  With  this 
idea  in  mind  No.  14  School  building  was  selected.  Perhaps  more 
than  any  other  school  building  in  Rochester,  this  one  is  located,  geog- 
raphically and  socially,  in  midground  of  city  life.  It  stands  about  half 
way  between  East  Avenue  and  Davis  Street.  There  are  in  its  neigh- 
borhood many  of  the  early  residents  of  Rochester  and  there  are  also 
many  newly  arrived  citizens  from  foreign  shores;  many  races,  most 
of  the  religious,  political  and  social  groups  in  the  city  are  here  repre- 
sented. To  quote  from  the  first  published  statement  regarding  the  So- 
cial Centers  printed  in  the  bulletin  issued  November  /th,  1907,  "The 
first  Social  Center  is  established  here  in  a  representative  district, 
neither  over  rich  nor  poor,  but  where  people  live  who  are  self  respect- 
ing and  capable,  comfortably  well-to-do,  the  kind  of  people  who  make 
the  real  strength  and  brain  of  our  American  life." 

4.     EQUIPMENT  OF  THE  BUILDING. 

The  parts  of  the  building  which  it  was  decided  should  be  used 
for  the  Social  Center  were  the  assembly  hall  on  the  third  floor 
which  was  to  serve  five  nights  each  week  as  a  gymnasium  and  one 
night  for  an  auditorium ;  the  kindergarten  room  on  the  ground  floor, 
which  was  to  be  used  as  a  reading  and  quiet  game  room,  and  the  art 
and  physics  rooms  of  the  Normal  School,  which  were  to  serve  for 
club  meetings.  The  first  step  in  the  equipping  of  the  building  \vas  the 
installation  of  iron  gates  shutting  oft"  the  parts  of  the  building  which 
were  not  to  be  used  for  the  Social  Center.  The  next  was  the  equip- 
ping of  the  gymnasium.  One  side  of  the  assembly  hall  was  to  be 
used  for  a  basketball  court ;  on  the  other  side  a  horizontal  bar,  parallel 
bars,  horse,  ladder,  flying  and  traveling  rings,  climbing  ropes  and 
poles,  and  mats  for  tumbling  and  wrestling  were  installed.  In  addi- 
tion to  this  equipment,  dumb  bells,  Indian  clubs,  wands  and  boxing 
gloves  were  procured.  It  would  have  been  most  desirable  to  have  in- 
stalled shower  baths  in  connection  with  the  gymnasium  and  on  the 
same  floor.  As  it  was  impossible  to  do  this,  they  were  installed  in  a 
room  on  the  ground  floor  in  connection  with  the  cloak  room  of  the 
kindergarten,  which  was  to  be  used  as  a  dressing  room.  This  com- 
pleted the  equipment  for  physical  exercise.  For  the  recreational  activ- 
ities, outside  of  the  gymnasium,  sixty  chairs,  a  dozen  tables  and  a 

15 


Shower   Baths  at   No.   9 — Each   of  the   Centers    Is   Equipped   with    Bathing    Facilities. 


dozen  table  games,  such  as  chess  and  checkers,  were  procured.  For 
the  intellectual  activities  of  the  Center  a  stereopticon  lantern  was 
secured  to  be  used  in  connection  with  lectures,  a  library  of  five  hun- 
dred volumes  was  borrowed  from  Albany,  and  subscriptions  were 
taken  for  a  dozen  periodicals.  For  the  social  activities  a  set  of  cheap 
dishes  was  procured  which  could  be  used  by  the  various  clubs  in  the 
Social  Center  in  serving  the  refreshments,  which  these  clubs  might 
provide. 

In  some  respects  Xo.  14  School  Building  was  well  fitted  for  use  as 
a  Social  Center.  Its  large  kindergarten  room  and  its  twro  class  rooms, 
which  were  used  for  club  meetings,  were  unusually  pleasant.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  fact  that  the  assembly  hall  was  on  the  top  floor  made 
it  difficult  for  the  older  people  in  the  community  to  attend  the  lectures 
and  entertainments ;  the  fact  that  the  shower  baths  were  away  from 
the  gymnasium  and  that  the  entrance  which  was  to  be  used  for  the 
Social  Center  was  in  the  rear  of  the  building, — these  things  helped  to 

16 


make,  this  a  good  building  to  try  out  the  idea  from  the  point  of  view 
of  adaptation  of  the  building.  If  success  could  be  won  in  such  a  build- 
ing, it  could  be  attained  almost  anywhere. 

5.     DIVISION  OF  TIME. 

It  was  decided  that  the  Social  Center  should  be  open  from  7:30 
to  10:00  o'clock  every  evening  in  the  week  except  Sunday.  One 
evening  was  set  apart  for  a  general  gathering  of  the  men  and  women, 
boys  and  girls  of  the  Center.  On  this  evening  it  was  proposed  that  a 
lecture  or  entertainment,  somewhat  after  the  pattern  of  those  which 
are  provided  in  New  York  City,  should  be  given.  The  School  Board 
should  assume  complete  responsibility  for  the  character  of  these  enter- 
tainments. Like  the  lectures  given  in  New  York  City,  these  general 
lectures  were  to  cost  not  more  than  $10.00  a  piece  in  addition  to  the 
expenses  of  the  speakers.  Unlike  the  lectures  given  in  New  York, 
these  were  to  be  provided  without  expense  to  the  city  whenever  they 


Saturday  Evenings   Frequently  Find  the  Auditorium  at   No.   9  Too   Small — It   Has   Seats   for 

Only  a  Thousand. 

could  be  secured  without  imposition.  It  was  decided  that  Friday 
evening  should  be  used  as  the  evening  for  the  general  lecture  or  enter- 
tainment at  No.  14.  The  other  five  evenings  of  the  week  to  be  divided 

17 


between  the  men  and  boys,  who  should  have  three,  and  the  women 
and  girls,  who  should  have  the  other  two.  Tuesday,  Thursday  and 
Saturday  were  set  apart  for  the  use  of  the  men  and  boys,  Monday 
and  Wednesday  for  the  women  and  girls. 

6.     APPOINTMENT  OF  DIRECTORS. 

More  important  than  the  equipping  of  the  building  or  the  arrang- 
ing of  the  time  schedule  was  the  one  step  which  remained  to  be  taken 
before  the  Social  Center  work  could  be  begun.  This  was  the  appoint- 
ment of  directors  for  the  various  departments  of  the  work.  The  first 
position  in  the  Social  Center  was  naturally  that  of  the  director  of  the 
Center,  who  should  occupy  a  position  relative  to  that  of  the  principal 
of  the  school,  overseeing  all  of  the  various  activities  of  the  Center  and 
being  present  whenever  the  building  was  open.  This  position  was  to 
be  occupied  during  the  first  year  by  the  supervisor  of  the  Centers. 

Next  in  importance  to  the  director,  was  the  assistant,  a  woman 
to  take  charge  of  the  women's  and  girls'  activities  of  the  Center  and 
serve  as  their  club  director.  It  was  especially  fortunate  for  the  trying 
out  of  the  experiment  at  No.  14  that  the  woman  who  was  appointed 
to  this  position  not  only  had  such  a  spirit  of  social  interest  that  she 
made  over  five  hundred  calls  in  the  neighborhood,  in  which,  by  the 
way,  she  found  not  a  single  family  in  which  the  idea  of  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Social  Center  in  the  community  was  not  heartily  welcomed, 
but  she  also  possessed  ability  for  musical  leadership  so  that  even  be- 
fore the  Social  Center  was  formally  opened  she  had  gathered  an  or- 
chestra from  the  neighborhood  which  furnished  music  on  the  general 
evenings  throughout  the  year. 

The  third  position  to  be  filled  was  that  of  director  of  boys'  clubs. 
This  man  was  to  be  present  three  evenings  each  week,  was  to  prepare 
the  programs  for  the  meetings  of  the  boys'  organizations,  to  help  the 
debaters  and  other  speakers  from  among  the  boys  themselves  in  their 
work  of  preparation  and  to  guide  them  in  the  orderly  conduct  of  their 
club  meetings.  The  qualifications  for  this  position  are  high  and  we 
were  fortunate  in  securing  a  man  in  whom  they  were  unusually  well 
combined.  The  pay  for  this  service  was  to  be  at  the  same  rate  as  the 
pay  of  an  evening  school  teacher,  $25.00  a  month,  though  the  club  di- 
rector was  to  give  a  half  hour  more  each  night  than  is  given  by  the 
evening  school  teacher. 

18 


The  charge  of  the  books  and  magazines  and  of  the  game  room 
required  the  appointment  of  a  librarian.  It  was  necessary  that  this 
person  should  give  five  nights  each  week  to  the  work,  being  present 


The   Beautiful   Library  at  West  High   Is  An  Attractive   Place  on  Sunday  Afternoons   During 

the  Winter. 

whenever  the  Center  was  open,  except  on  the  general  evening.  For 
this  position  it  was  necessary  to  have  some  one  who  was  not  only  fa- 
miliar enough  with  books  to  advise  in  their  selection  and  to  help  in 
finding  material  for  debates,  etc.,  but  also  a  person  who  could  teach 
chess  and  other  table  games  and  could  prevent  disorder  without  pre- 
venting enjoyment.  The  salary  affixed  to  this  position  was  $30.00 
per  month. 

The. gymnasium  work  required  the  appointment  of,  first,  a  direc- 
tor of  gymnasium  work  among  the  men  and  boys,  who  should  be  pres- 
ent on  their  three  evenings  and  who  should  be  equipped  to  lead  drills 
and  classes  in  apparatus  work  as  well  as  in  the  supervision  of  basket- 
ball and  other  gymnasium  games.  This  position,  like  that  of  the  club 
director,  was  to  pay  the  Evening  School  rate  of  $25.00  per  month ;  and 
second,  a  woman  gymnasium  director.  On  account  of  the  fact  that 
the  women's  gymnasium  work  was  to  consist  largely  of  drills  and  folk 

19 


dances,  requiring-  the  accompaniment  of  a  piano,  an  assistant  was  also 
appointed  who  should  serve  as  pianist.  Because  of  the  exceptional 
qualifications  of  the  woman  who  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the 
women's  gvmnasium  work,  the  salary  for  this  position  was  made  the 
same  as  that  of  the  man  gymnasium  director,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that 
she  was  to  serve  only  two  evenings  each  week.  The  assistant's  salary 
was  fixed  at  $15.00. 


Wand  Drill  at  No.   14— The  Women  and  Girls  Have  the  Gymnasium  Two  Nights  Each  Week. 


Iii  addition  to  these  positions  it  was  found  necessary  to  appoint 
a  door  and  hall  keeper;  first,  to  prevent  running  and  disorder  at  the 
entrance  and  in  the  halls ;  second,  to  exclude  the  children,  who  on  ac- 
count of  their  age,  were  ineligible  to  the  Social  Center ;  and  third,  to 
serve  as  an  information  bureau  and  guide  to  strangers  who  might 
visit  the  Center. 

In  order  to  prepare  the  building  for  the  use  of  the  Social  Center 
I  to  put  it  in  order  for  the  day  school  use,  it  was  necessary  that  an 
istant  to  the  regular  janitor  of  the  building  be  employed.  This 

20 


man  was  to  be  responsible  to  the  day  school  janitor,  who  was  to  see 
that  he  did  the  required  work  in  a  proper  manner.  The  salary  at- 
tached to  this  position,  which  required  a  man's  presence  six  nights 
each  week,  was  $50.00  per  month. 


"It  is  not  blessedness  to  know 

That  thou,  thyself  art  blessed. 
True  joy  was  never  yet  by  one, 

Nor  yet  by  two,  possessed. 
Not  to  the  many  is  it  given, 

But  only  to  the  all; 
The  joy  that  leaves  one  heart  unblessed 

Would  be  for  mine  too  small. 
And  he  who  holds  this  faith  will  strive, 

With  firm  and  ardent  soul, 
And  work  out  his  own  proper  good 

In  working  for  the  whole." 

— Wisdom  of  the  Brahmans. 


21 


Ill 

BEGINNING   OF   SOCIAL   CENTER 
ACTIVITIES 

With  the  plan  of  the  work  definitely  laid  out,  the  building 
equipped,  the  schedule  of  the  division  of  time  arranged  and  the  direc- 
tors appointed,  the  preparations  were  complete  for  the  actual  beginning 
of  the  work. 

i.     THE  OPENING  EVENING. 

Friday  evening,  November  1st,  1907,  was  the  date  set  for  the 
opening  of  the  first  Social  Center.  In  spite  of  the  fact  that  very  many 
people  in  the  neighborhood  knew  nothing,  or  at  best  had  an  erroneous 
idea,  of  the  project,  there  were  314  people  present.  The  evening  was 
opened  with  music  by  the  orchestra,  which  had  been  gathered  by 
the  assistant  director,  and  the  singing  of  a  solo  by  one  of  the  men  in 
the  neighborhood.  This  was  followed  by  an  address  in  which  the 
1 'resident  of  the  Board  of  Education  spoke  on  the  Social  Center  Idea. 
He  said  that  this  gathering  might,  without  conceit,  be  regarded  as 
helping  to  make  history  in  this  country,  and  simple  and  informal 
though  it  was.  the  influence  of  the  success,  which  those  interested  in 
the  plan  hoped  for,  would  extend  beyond  the  borders  of  this  city  and 
this  country  and  out  through  the  civilized  world.  He  spoke  of  the 
two  opposing  forms  of  government,  the  paternal  and  the  fraternal,  the 
one  in  which  the  people  have  things  done  for  them  and  the  other  in 
which  the  people  do  things  for  themselves.  He  spoke  of  the  various 
departments  of  our  municipal  service  as  means  by  which  the  people 
co-operate  to  secure  common  benefits — Police  and  Eire  Departments, 
the  I 'arks  and  Playgrounds  and  the  Public  School  System.  Then 
speaking  of  the  Social  Center  work,  he  said: 

"There  is  a  field  largely  untouched,  an  interest  almost  wholly  un- 
satisfied, by  these  provisions,  and  this  rests  upon  one  of  the  most  in- 
grained instincts  in  human  nature,  an  instinct,  upon  the  satisfaction  of 
which  our  well-being  and  happiness  depend.  I  mean  the  social  in- 
stinct. This  instinct  imperiously  demands  the  presence,  the  sympathy 
and  the  co-operation  of  others,  as  necessary  to  our  success.  The 
things  we  have  and  the  things  \ve  do  are  of  little  value,  unless  shared 

22 


by  others.  Solitary  confinement  is  the  most  cruel  and  unbearable  form 
of  punishment.  In  young  people,  this  instinct  for  sympathy,  for 
friendship,  for  intercourse  with  others  is  so  imperious  that,  if  checked 
or  thwarted,  it  will  break  all  bounds  and  drive  men  and  women  to  al- 
most any  expedient  or  any  sacrifice  to  secure  the  companionship  which 
they  crave.  It  is  the  desire  to  satisfy  this  instinct,  rather  than  any 
inherent  vicious  tendency,  that  causes  the  places  of  evil  to  flourish  in 
our  cities.  It  is  because  there  is  no  legitimate  nor  wholesome  means 
of  satisfying  the  cravings  for  companionship. 


Flags    Exchanged    by    the    Women's    Club 
and    the    Italian    Men's    Club — Picture 
Drawn  by  An  Italian  and  Present- 
ed   to    the    Women's    Club    at 
No.    14    Center. 

''In  young  people  it  takes  the  form  of  a  craving  for  the  fellowship 
of  those  who  have  the  same  experience  and  the  same  interests  as  them- 
selves. They  demand  the  opportunity  to  interchange  thought  and 
feeling  and  to  act  together  in  the  satisfaction  of  their  natural  interests, 
and  to  all  classes  the  refreshment  and  inspiration  of  healthful  social 
opportunity  is  incalculable.  If  this  instinct  is  not  satisfied  in  whole- 
some and  uplifting  ways,  if  people  of  all  classes  are  compelled  to  find 
companionship  when  and  where  they  can ;  if  those  who  would  profit 
by  it  are  permitted  to  make  their  appeal,  in  evil  ways,  and  with  mercen- 
ary promptings,  then  we  have  the  harvest  of  crime,  insanity  and  moral 
disintegration  and  shipwreck  which  is  so  terrible  a  characteristic  of 
existing  society. 

23 


•'The  individual  home  cannot  solve  this  problem.  The  city  with 
its  rapid  shifting  of  population  and  its  inclusion  of  all  classes  of  the 
community  develops  suspicion  and  distrust,  and  so  we  cannot  secure 
the  simple  neighborliness  and  free  intercourse  of  the  rural  community. 
In  the  city  there  is  isolation  from  our  nearest  neighbors.  It  is  simply 
impossible  for  the  individual  home  to  provide  the  means  for  the  activi- 
ties which  young  people  crave.  They  crave  physical  activity  with  its 
competition,  its  zest,  its  exhilaration.  They  crave  the  quiet  games  of 
skill.  They  crave  books  suitable  to  age  and  taste  and  education. 
They  crave  entertainment  which  shall  give  healthful  stimulation  to 
their  emotional  life.  They  crave  the  closer  associations  of  those  of 
like  age  and  interest,  which  makes  the  gang,  the  group  and  the  club. 
In  short,  people  of  all  ages  crave  the  opportunity  of  interchange  of 
thought  and  sympathy,  and  the  inspiration  of  contact  with  other  lives. 

"The  Social  Center  idea  is  simply  the  idea  that  the  community  as 
a  whole  should  make  provision  for  these  fundamental  social  needs. 
That  this  social  instinct  should  not  be  left  to  satisfy  itself  at  hap-haz- 
ard  ;  that  the  community,  appreciating  the  tremendous  significance  of 
this  instinct  for  the  health  and  prosperity  of  society,  should  work  out  a 
method  of  satisfying  it  in  a  wholesome  and  uplifting  way. 

"\Ye  the  people  of  the  city  of  Rochester,  have  decided  to  try  to  ap- 
ply this  idea  in  a  practical  way.  Through  our  representatives  in  the 
government  of  the  city  provision  has  been  made  for  a  beginning.  The 
idea  was  suggested  by  the  fact  that  we  have  buildings  belonging  to  the 
people,  situated  in  various  quarters  of  the  city,  and  capable  of  serving 
this  purpose  without  interfering  with  their  use  as  public  schools.  It  is, 
therefore,  a  method  by  which  the  people  are  enabled  to  get  the  utmost 
value  out  of  the  buildings. 

"We  are  not  first  to  apply  this  idea.  It  has  been  tried  particularly 
in  Xew  York  City,  but  certain  principles  upon  which  this  work  has 
been  planned  are  new,  and  we  hope  in  this  way  to  make  a  real  contribu- 
tion to  the  successful  working  out  of  the  idea,  and  to  have  the  work  of 
this  winter  form  a  significant  part  of  the  history  of  the  movement  in 
this  country,  for  already  there  are  abundant  signs  of  a  widespread 
national  interest  in  the  work  we  are  undertaking. 

o 

'Let  me  close  these  remarks  with  an  appeal  for  your  hearty  co- 
operation. In  a  sense,  the  eyes  of  the  whole  city  will  be  upon  us  here, 
and  let  us  all  co-operate  in  making  the  most  of  the  opportunities  of- 

24 


ferecl.  Especially,  let  us  come  here,  not  merely  to  get,  but  to  give ;  not 
merely  to  receive  inspiration  and  entertainment,  but  to  give  all  these 
as  well.  Let  the  community  spirit;  the  fraternal  spirit,  the  spirit  of 
genuine  democracy  prevade  the  work.  This  will  be  manifested  in  the 
orderliness,  the  courtesy,  the  spirit  of  mutual  consideration  with  which 
all  is  done." 

Following  the  address  by  Prof.  Forbes  and  another  number  by 
the  orchestra,  the  Principal  of  the  Normal  Training  School  spoke. 
She  said  that  all  of  the  teachers  of  the  school  were  heartily  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  Center  and  would  be  glad  to  unite  with  the  people  in 
making  it  a  success.  She  then  spoke  of  the  value  of  learning  respect 
for  common  property  and  the  aesthetic  benefit  that  would  come  from 
keeping  the  rooms  and  building  beautiful  and  making  them  more  at- 
tractive. 

After  a  talk  by  the  director  of  the  Social  Center,  in  which  he 
outlined  the  plans  for  the  winter,  the  people  went  downstairs  to  the 
reading  and  game  room  where  they  were  served  with  refreshments 
by  the  members  of  the  School  Faculty.  This  hospitality,  shown  by 


West   High    Lunch    Room   Where   a   Thousand   People   Can    Lunch   Together. 

25 


the  day  school  teachers  on  the  opening  evening.  \vas  an  indication 
of  the  heart v  spirit  of  co-operation,  which  was  to  do  much  toward 
the  success  of  the  ("enter.  But  the  real  reason  for  the  success  of 
the  Social  Center  in  Xo.  14.  through  its  first  year,  was  not  primarily 
in  anv  inspiration  that  came  from  the  Board  of  Education,  nor  in  hos- 
pitality on  the  part  of  the  day  school  teachers,  great  helps,  as  both 
of  these  were;  it  was  primarily  in  the  broad,  joyous,  hearty  spirit 
of  "co-operation  and  good  fellowship,  which  the  people  of  the  com- 
munity began  to  show  on  that  opening  evening.  There  was  present, 
as  the  first  bulletin  said,  "a  feeling  that  a  great  new  opportunity  and 
means  of  acquaintanceship  and  enjoyment  had  come  into  our  neigh- 
borhood life."  The  immediate  perception  of  the  true  spirit  of  the 
Social  Centers  was  shown  by  one  of  the  men  of  the  community,  who, 
as  lie  left  the  building,  remarked  to  the  director,  "It  just  means  for 
the  people  to  get  their  money's  worth  out  of  their  own  property." 

2.     ORGANIZATION  OF  CLUBS. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Center,  the  fundamental  importance  of 
club  organization  had  been  explained  and  it  had  been  announced 
that  the  boys  between  14  and  17  would  have  an  opportunity  to  or- 
ganize, on  the  following  evening,  a  club  which  should  hold  meetings 
on  each  successive  Saturday  evening.  The  gymnasium,  baths,  li- 
brary, etc..  were  to  be  open  for  the  men  and  older  boys,  while  the 
small  boys  were  having  their  meeting.  The  young  men  between  17 
and  21  were  invited  to  form  a  club  to  meet  on  Tuesday  evening,  the 
while  the  men  and  younger  boys,  to  have  the  use  of  the  other  parts 
of  the  Social  Center  equipment.  Thursday  evening  was  set  apart  for 
the  club  meeting  of  men,  if  such  a  club  were  formed,  the  boys  having 
the  gymnasium  and  the  rest  of  the  equipment  on  that  evening.  The 
women  were  invited  to  form  their  club  to  meet  on  Monday  evening 
and  the  girls  and  younger  women  to  use  Wednesday  evenings,  each 
group  to  have  the  use  of  the  gymnasium,  etc.,  during  the  time  when 
its  members  were  not  holding  their  meeting. 

In  one  respect  all  of  these  organizations  were  to  be  alike.  They 
were  all  to  bear  the  expenses  which  their  meetings  and  programs  in- 
curred, except  the  expense  of  heating,  lighting  and  janitor  service 
and.  in  the  case  of  the  clubs  of  young  people,  the  salary  of  the  club 
director;  which  expenses  should  be  paid  out  of  the  Social  Center 
fund.  I<:ach  club  was  to  be  free  and  dependent  upon  itself  for  the 

26 


selection  of  officers,  arrangement  of  programs,  etc.  The  adult  clubs 
would  have  no  supervisor,  though  they  might  of  course  call  upon 
any  of  the  Social  Center  force  for  .help.  The  younger  clubs  would 
be  guided  in  their  organization  by  a  director,  who  would  be  present 
at  each  of  their  meetings,  to  help  in  the  orderly  conduct  of  business 
and  to  advise  concerning  programs,  etc. 

It  was  further  announced  that  the  general  lectures  and  enter- 
tainments and  the  uses  of  the  rest  of  the  equipment,  would  be  open 
to  all  men  and  women  but  to  only  those  young  people  who  were  mem- 
bers in  good  standing  of  one  of  the  clubs.  This  requirement  was  not 
placed  upon  adults  because  it  was  expected,  (and  the  event  fulfilled 
the  expectation),  that  for  them  the  club  meetings  would  be  the  most 
important  part  of  Social  Center  activity  anyway. 

A.     IN   THE   SOCIAL   CENTER. 

On  Saturday  evening  about  twenty-eight  boys,  between  14  and 
17,  met  and  effected  an  organization.  A  constitution  was  drawn  up 
with  the  aid  of  the  director  and  adopted.  The  preamble  of  that  consti- 
tution was  as  follows : 

"Whereas,  the  world  needs  men  and  women,  who  can  think 
clearly  and  express  their  thoughts  wrell ;  and,  whereas,  each  of  us  has 


v*     T     ^  ^ 

1 f  «'*•** 

-     ^ 


Some  of  the  Members  of  the  Coming  Civic  Club  of  No.   14  Center. 

27 


powers  of  clear  thinking  and  good  expression  which  need  only  prac- 
tice for  development:  and.  whereas,  by  combination  of  effort  the  best 
results  may  be  obtained,  we  whose  names  are  hereunto  annexed,  do 
form  a  society  whose  object  shall  be  the  cultivation  of  the  powers  of 
clear  thinking  and  good  expression  by  means  of  debates,  essays,  ora- 
tions, public  readings  and  discussions." 

The  following  Tuesday  evening  thirty-four  boys,  between  17  and 
21,  came  together  and  formed  an  organization  similiar  to  that  which 
the  younger  boys  had  formed  on  Saturday  evening,  adopting  a  Con- 
stitution similar  to  that  of  the  younger  club. 

The  Men's  Club,  for  which  Thursday  evening  was  reserved, 
did  not  materialize  until  a  month  later. 

On  Monday  evening  some  forty  women  formed  an  organization 
to  hold  weekly  meetings,  drew  up  a  constitution  and  elected  officers. 

The  girls  under  21  formed  their  club,  on  the  same  lines  as  those 
followed  by  the  boys'  organization,  on  Wednesday  evening. 

In  the  younger  clubs  it  was  voted  that  the  programs  should 
consist  of  two  debates,  one  address  by  an  outside  speaker,  and  one 
miscellaneous  program  each  month.  The  women's  club  decided  to 
have  two  addresses,  one  debate  or  other  special  program  and  one  social 
evening  each  month. 

In  each  of  these  clubs  it  was  voted  that  a  small  sum  of  money 
should  be  required  as  dues,  which  should  go  into  a  club-fund  for  pro- 
viding refreshments  on  social  evenings  or  to  bear  any  other  expenses 
which  the  club  might  incur. 

In  each  of  these  clubs,  at  the  beginning,  the  membership  was  re- 
stricted to  those  whom  the  club  elected  in  by  vote,  the  theory  being 
that  new  clubs  of  boys  and  girls  or  women  might  be  formed  at  any 
time  by  those  who,  for  any  reason,  did  not  become  members  of  the 
already  existing  clubs.  Following  out  this  idea  there  were  formed, 
within  a  month  after  the  organization  of  the  first  clubs,  two  other 
clubs  of  boys  between  17  and  21,  one  other  club  of  boys  between 
14  and  17  and  a  second  women's  club;  so  that  by  the  middle  of  the 
first  year  in  Xo.  14  there  were  five  boys'  clubs,  two  women's  clubs 
and  one  young  women's  club. 

On  December  5th,  1907,  twelve  men  came  together  in  the  Social 
Center  and  organized  the  first  Men's  Civic  Club.  The  aim  of  this 
organization  was  expressed  in  the  Preamble  of  its  constitution  as  fol- 
lows : 

28 


"Whereas,  the  welfare  of  society  demands  that  those  whose  duty 
it  is  to  exercise  the  franchise  be  well  informed  upon  the  economic, 
industrial  and  political  questions  of  to-day ;  and  whereas,  by  combina- 
tion of  effort  the  best  results  may  be  obtained ;  and  whereas,  the  public 
school  building  is  the  best  available  place  for  such  combination  of 
effort :  therefore,  we,  whose  names  are  hereunto  annexed,  do  form  a 
society  to  hold,  in  the  public  school  building,  meetings  whose  object 
shall  be  the  gaining  of  information  upon  public  questions  by  listening 
to  public  speakers  and  by  public  readings  and  discussions." 

At  this  first  meeting  of  the  club  Dr.  J.  L.  Roseboom  was  elected 
president.  In  his  inaugural  address  was  expressed  the  true  spirit  of 
the  Social  Center  as  the  restoration  to  the  school  in  the  city  of  the 
democratic  social  activities,  which  were  connected  with  the  uses  of  the 
schoolhouse  "back  home."  In  that  address  he  said  that  he  had  been 
brought  up,  as  a  boy,  in  a  farming  community  where  the  individual's 
interest  in  and  responsibility  for  public  matters  find  expression  in 
meetings  in  the  schoolhouse.  He  had  watched  the  development  of 
the  Social  Center  and  had  noticed  a  similarity  to  the  social  uses  of  the 
schoolhouse  there.  He  felt  that  the  institution  would  not  be  com- 
plete unless,  like  it's  prototype,  it  included  meetings  of  the  men  in 
the  community,  for  the  open  presentation  and  free  discussion  of  public 
questions. 

The  representative  character  of  this  organization  was  shown  in 
the  fact  that  among  the  first  set  of  officers  elected,  two  were  members 
of  the  "well-to-do"  class,  one  a  banker,  the  other  a  physician,  while  the 
others  were  men  who  labored  with  their  hands. 

The  enthusiasm  with  which  the  organization  of  this  Men's  Civic 
Club  was  received  was  such  that  at  the  second  meeting  of  the  club 
the  membership  roll  increased  to  fifty.  At  that  meeting  Alderman 
Frank  Ward,  \vho  had  been  invited  to  address  the  Club  on  "The  Duties 
of  an  Alderman,"  made  a  memorable  statement  as  to  the  value  of  such 
an  organization.  At  the  close  of  his  address  he  responded  to  the  -vote 
of  thanks,  tendered  him  by  the  club,  by  saying:  "You  have  given  me 
a  vote  of  thanks.  I  feel  that  I  want  to  give  you  a  vote  of  thanks  for 
the  privilege  of  speaking  to  you  and  hearing  your  frank  discussion 
of  my  words.  If  you  have  been  benefited  by  my  coming  here,  I  have 
been  benefited  more.  If  every  member  of  the  Common  Council  and 
every  other  public  servant  had,  frequently,  such  opportunities  as  this 

29 


to  discuss  public  matters  with  those  to  whom  he  owes  his  appointment 
it  would  mean  that  we  would  have  much  better,  more  intelligent  rep- 
resentation of  the  people's  interests  and  a  cleaner  government." 

In  addition  to  these  clubs,  the  only  other  one  formed  was  the 
orchestra,  which  has  already  been  mentioned  and  which,  while  it  had 
no  regular  written  constitution  or  form  of  business  in  meetings,  vir- 
tually constituted  a  club.  There  were  ten  members  of  the  orchestra, 
both  men  and  women.  They  met  for  practice,  under  the  leadership 
of  the  assistant  director  of  the  Center  every  Tuesday  evening  and 
then  played  at  the  general  Friday  evening  lecture  or  entertainment. 
The  part  that  this  organization  had  in  making  the  Social  Center  at- 
tractive and  successful  was  very  great. 

B.  In  Other   School   Buildings. 

On  September  24th,  1907,  a  boys'  club  was  organized  at  Xo.  12. 
\\adsworth  School,  under  the  volunteer  direction  of  the  principal. 
To  mark  the  fact  that  it  was  the  first  clnb  of  the  kind  to  organize  in 
Rochester,  the  boys  chose  the  name  "Wadsvvorth  Pioneers."  Its  pro- 
gram included,  in  addition  to  a  business  session  at  each  meeting, 
athletics,  lectures,  games  and  one  club  supper. 


They'll   Do  Something  in   Music   Better  Than   This   Someday  but  They   Do  This   Well. 


Later  a  girls'  club  with  a  membership  of  about  twenty  was  formed 
to  meet  on  the  same  evening  as  the  boys  club,  in  another  part  of  the 
building.  The  girls  activities,  in  addition  to  their  business  meetings, 
were  athletics,  games,  cooking  and  sewing. 

\Yithout  expense  to  the  city,  the  boys  at  Xo.  12  procured  a  few 
pieces  of  gymnasium  apparatus  and  table  games. 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  school  Xo.  20  was  not  equipped  with 
apparatus  and  had  not  even  a  place  for  basketball,  a  c(ub  of  twenty- 
five  boys  was  organized  in  Xovember,  to  meet  in  that  building,  one 
evening  each  week.  The  principal  of  the  school  gave  his  services  as 
director  of  this  club. 

During  the  season  the  fame  of  the  Men's  Civic  Club,  meeting 
in  Xo.  14  Social  Center,  spread  over  the  city  and  there  were  frequent 
visitors  from  other  neighborhoods.  Among  these  were  several  men 
in  the  Tenth  Ward.  These  men  called  together  a  meeting  and  asked 
permission  of  the  Board  of  Education  to  use  Xo.  7  School  Building 
for  the  holding  of  meetings  similar  to  those  which  the  men  were  hold- 
ing in  Xo.  14.  On  the  i/th  of  April,  they  organized  The  Lake  View 
Men's  Civic  Club.  Its  object  was  the  presentation  and  free  discussion 
of  public  questions  in  the  interest  of  the  community  welfare.  The 
club  decided  to  hold  meetings  once  each  month. 

On  the  1 5th  of  May,  the  men  in  the  Eighteenth  Ward,  following 
the  example  of  those  in  the  Tenth,  organized  a  Men's  Civic  Club  to 
hold  meetings  in  Xo.  33  School  Building  in  the  public  interest. 


"The  wonder  is,  always,  and 
always,  how  there  can  be  a 
mean  man." 

— Whitman. 


31 


IV 
THE  FIRST   YEAR'S   RECORD 

Of  course,  the  beginnings  of  the  various  activities  in  the  Social 
Center  which  have  already  been  dealt  with,  form  the  principle  part  of 
the  record  of  the  first  year  in  Xo.  14,  but  if  it  were  nothing  more  than 
a  series  of  beginnings,  the  experiment  which  was  tried  out  there  could 
not  have  been  counted  successful.  It  may  be  well  therefore,  to  cover 
as  briefly  as  possible  the  developments  in  the  various  departments  of 
Social  Center  activitv  through  the  vear. 


i.     CLUBS. 

Each  of  the  clubs  continued  to  hold  meetings  from  the  time  of  its 
organization  and  each  of  them  continued  to  grow  steadily  in  interest 
as  well  as  in  membership. 

A.  Boys'  and  Girls'  Clubs. 

From  the  "formatory"  point  of  view  the  clubs  of  young  people, 
especially  of  boys,  were  the  most  important.  A  month  after  the 
opening,  a  merchant,  whose  place  of  busi- 
ness is  near  the  Center,  stopped  the  di- 
rector on  the  street  to  say,  "The  Social 
Center  has  accomplished  what  I  had  re- 
garded as  impossible.  I  have  been  here 
nine  years  and  during  that  time  there  has 
always  been  a  gang  of  toughs  around  these 
corners  which  has  been  a  continual  nuis- 
This  winter  the  gang  has  disap- 


ance. 


The  Old  Club. 


peared."     "They   aren't   a   gang   any   more,"   answered   the   director, 

"they  are  a  debating  club."  The  value  to 
these  young  fellows,  among  whom  there 
were  not  only  several  college  students  and 
a  number  of  High  School  boys,  but  also  an 
interesting  group  of  young  fellows  of  the 
"agin  the  government"  type,  of  having  a 
wholesome  gathering  place  where  they  were 
offered  inducements  to  develop  their  latent 


The  New  Club. 


32 


powers  of  self-government  as  well  as  opportunities  for  wholesome  phy- 
sical exercise,  in  the  words  of  one  of  the  visitors  to  the  Center,  "by 
itself  more  than  justified  all  the  expenditure  which  the  maintenance  of 
the  Social  Center  entailed." 

The  manner  in  which  the  only  case  of  discipline,  which  came  up 
during  the  year,  was  handled,  is  an  illustration  of  the  service  of  these 
clubs.  About  a  month  after  the  Social  Center  was  opened,  a  plaster 
statue  standing  in  one  of  the  halls,  was  maliciously  injured.  When 
the  boys  learned  of  this  they  appointed  three  members  of  each  of  the 
clubs  to  act  as  a  House  Committee  to  prevent  further  vandalism,  and 
while  the  culprit  was  not  discovered,  the  boys  in  an  indignation  meet- 
ing expressed  their  sentiments,  which  clearly  showed  that  injury  to 
Social  Center  property  would  make  the  fellow  responsible  for  it  a 
very  unpopular  citizen.  The  members  of  these  clubs  also  furnished 
ushering  service  in  the  general  meetings  of  the  center. 

In  addition  to  the  programs  of  debates  and  addresses  as  planned 
at  the  organization  of  these  clubs,  each  of  them  held,  during  the  year, 
a  club  banquet  paid  for  by  the  members  of  the  club,  at  which  toasts 
were  given  by  the  club  members.  Each  of  the  boys'  clubs  also  enter- 
tained the  girls  once  during  the  year,  and  the  girls  club  entertained 
the  boys  in  return.  The  one  large  enterprise  which  the  boys  under- 
took and  carried  through  successfully  was  the  giving,  on  February 
7th,  of  a  Minstrel  Show.  Much  hard  work  was  done  in  preparation 
for  this,  under  the  training  of  the  assistant  director  of  the  Center  and 
the  director  of  the  gymnasium. 

B.  Adult  Clubs. 

While  the  value  of  the  boys'  and  girls'  clubs  was  not  excelled 
by  that  of  any  other  branch  of  the  Social  Center  development,  the 
growth  and  success  of  the  adult  organizations  was  more  unusual. 
The  interest  which  these  bodies  developed  was  such  that  although 
the  gymnasium,  the  library  and  the  other  departments  of  the  Social 
Center  were  closed  at  the  end  of  April,  these  adult  clubs  continued 
to  hold  meetings  regularly  until  the  middle  of  May,  and  more  or  less 
irregularly  throughout  the  summer. 

Perhaps  the  most  interesting  meeting  held  by  any  of  the  clubs 
during  the  year  was  the  Men's  Club  banquet  at  Xo.  14,  which  took 
place  on  April  2nd,  at  which  the  use  of  the  School  Buildings  for 
political  discussions  was  considered. 

33 


This  question  was  particularly  interesting  in  view  of  such  deci- 
sions as  that  given  by  the  State  Superintendent  of  Education  to  the 
people  of  the  town  of  \Yaterloo.  X.  Y.,  in  the  following  October.  A 
dispatch  from  Waterloo,  dated  October  2Oth,  says  that  "Bills  were 
posted  here  yesterday  announcing  a  mass  meeting  to  be  addressed  by 
Governor  Hughes.  It  was  hoped  that  the  meeting  could  be  held  at 
the  High  School's  Assembly  Hall  and  application  was  made  to  the 
Board  of  Education  for  permission.  The  Board  of  Education  sent  a 
telegram  to  the  State  Superintendent  asking  permission  for  each 
political  party  to  hold  one  mass  meeting  in  the  Assembly  Hall.  In 
response  to  this  Air.  Draper  telegraphed  that  the  law  does  not  permit 
the  use  of  school  houses  for  political  meetings." 

On  April  ist.  1908,  the  i6th  \Yard  Republican  Club  sent  a  petition 
to  the  Board  of  Education  asking  permission  to  use  Xo.  14  school 
building  for  committee  meetings. 

The  following  night  this  question  was  made  the  topic  of  discus- 
sion at  the  Men's  Club  banquet,  held  in  Xo.  14  Social  Center  and 
served  by  the  members  of  the  Women's  Civic  Club.  The  speakers  of 
the  evening  were  Ex-Mayor  James  G.  Cutler,  Prof.  Greorge  M. 
Forbes,  President  of  the  Board  of  Education,  Supt.  Clarence  F.  Carroll 
and  Howard  T.  Mosher,  Chairman  of  the  Democratic  County  Commit- 
tee. The  almost  unanimous  spirit  of  the  evening  was  expressed  in  the 
words  of  Mr.  Mosher,  "The  Schoolhouses  are  the  real  places  for  politi- 
cal meetings.  I  do  not  mean  that  they  should  be  opened  to  any  one 
political  party,  but  to  all.  Why  should  I  be  compelled  to  go  into  a 
barroom  to  address  a  political  meeting,  where  the  bartender  is  using 
me  to  advertise  his  beer?  Why  should  I  be  compelled  to  go  into 
smoke-filled  rooms  to  talk  on  political  issues  when  we  have  buildings 
like  this,  where  those  things  can  be  taken  up?"  Prof.  Forbes  stated 
the  position  of  the  Board  of  Education  as  follows:  He  said  that 
there  was  one  consideration  which  must  always  be  kept  in  mind,  that 
the  prime  purpose  of  the  school  buildings  was  for  educational  uses 
and  that  nothing  must  be  done  which  should  interfere  with  their  orig- 
inal object.  At  the  same  time,  he  reminded  his  listeners,  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  country  were  open  for  such  purposes  as  political 
discussion  and  this  use  did  not  interfere  with,  but  rather  increased, 
the  use  of  the  school  house  as  an  educational  institution  for  the  children 
Phis  movement,'  said  he,  "is  in  line  with  the  larger  educational  idea. 
It  would  be  a  logical  addition  to  the  schools  as  a  means  of  training 

34 


in  citizenship."  Having  said  this,  he  drew  the  line  sharply  on  the 
matter  of  exclusive  partisan  uses  of  the  school  building  saying  that 
the  ISoard  of  Education  had  refused  the  use  of  a  school  building  for 
exclusive  purposes  in  the  case  of  a  church  in  the  neighborhood  which 
had  desired  to  use  the  assembly  hall  for  an  entertainment.  "If  the 
people  wish  to  use  the  School  Buildings,  the  Board  of  Education  stands 
ready  to  carry  out  the  wish  of  the  people,"  said  he.  At  the  same  time 
he  showed  that  the  policy  of  the  Board  of  Education  was  not  to  make 
the  Social  Centers  like  the  Field  Houses  in  Chicago,  places  where  suc- 
cessive exclusive  groups  gathered,  but  rather  to  make  them  places 
where  all  men  came  together  on  a  common  ground  in  a  free  non-parti- 
san organization,  to  discuss  questions  in  which  all  were  interested. 

Two  things  were  definitely  settled  as  a  result  of  this  meeting, 
( )ne  was  that  there  should  be  entire  freedom  in  the  use  of  the  Social 
Centers  for  gatherings  to  discuss  all  sorts  of  topics.  The  second  was 
that  these  gatherings  should  not  be  exclusive  groups,  but  should  be 
open  to  all  and  under  the  auspices  of  the  free  non-partisan  organiza- 
tions of  men  and  women  known  as  "Civic  Clubs." 

With  these  restrictions  the  petition  of  the  i6th  Ward  Republican 
Club  was  granted. 

While  this  banquet  on  April  2nd  was  an  unusually  interesting 
occasion  there  was  not  a  meeting  held  by  any  of  these  adult  organiza- 
tions which  was  not  alive  with  interest. 


The    Men's    Civic    Club    at    No.    14— The    Pioneer    Club. 
"To   talk   about   the   things   that   ought   to   be   talked    about." 


In  the  Men's  Civic  Club  meeting's  the  order  usually  followed  was: 
First,  the  business  meeting",  then  the  address  of  the  evening,  and  then 
a  free  discussion  in  which  any  person  present  was  given  five  minutes 
to  ask  questions  or  to  state  his  views  on  the  topic  presented  by  the 
speaker.  At  the  close  of  the  discussion  the  speaker  of  the  evening 
was  given  opportunity  to  reply  to  questions,  and  to  sum  up  the  matter 
discussed.  A  list  of  speakers  and  topics  for  the  first  year  will  give  an 
idea  of  the  character  of  these  meetings. 

Dec.     5,   1907— Organization. 

Dec.    12,   1907 — -Aid.  Frank  Ward "Duties  of  an  Alderman" 

Dec.    19,   1907 — B.  1>.  Cunningham      "The  New  Charter" 

Dec.   26,   1907 — Com.  Isaac  Adler "Public  School  Extension" 

[an.      2,   1908 — The  only  time  a  speaker  has  failed  to  appear 

"The  Telephone  Question" 

Jan.      9,   1908 — Health  Officer  G.  W.  Goler  and  Dr.  Roby 

"Rochester's  Milk" 

Jan.    16,    1908 — Prof.  G.  M.  Forbes "The  Panic" 

Jan.    23,   1908 — Prof.  Win.  Morey "Trusts" 

Jan.    30.   1908 — Supt.  C.  V.  Lodge "The  Poor" 

Feb.     6,   1908 — Xelson  Spencer "Idealism  in  Municipal  Politics" 

Feb.    13,   1908 — Hon.  T.  M.  Osborne "Municipal  Government" 

Feb.   20.   1908— Prof.  G.  M.  Forbes "The  Panic"  (continued) 

Feb.   27,   1908 — 11  C.  Little "Rochester's  Water  Supply" 

Mar.     5,   1908— Com.  J.  P.  B.  Duffy "Tax  Levy" 

Mar.  12,   1908 — -Mass  Meeting,  on  Playgrounds 

Addresses  by  H.  T.  Mosher,  B.  Chase  and  others. 

Mar.  19,   1908 — Rev.  E.  A.  Rumball "Newfoundland  Fishermen" 

Mar.  26,   1908 — Rev.   Bela  Basso "The   Immigrant" 

Apr.     2,  1908— Banquet Hon.  J.  G.  Cutler,  C.  F.  Carroll, 

G.  M.  Forbes,  H.  T.  Mosher  and  others. 

Apr.     9,  1908 — Rev.  John  Lamar "Problems  of  this  Community" 

Apr.   16,  1908 — Prof.  Louis  J.  Vannucini "Italian  Question" 

Apr.  23,  1908 — W.  G.  Ehler  of  Cleveland 

"Municipal  Situation  at  Cleveland" 

Apr.  30,  1908—1-1.  T.  Mosher "Democratic  Policies" 

May     7,   1908— Richard  Kitchelt "Socialist  Policies" 

May   14,   1908— Wm.  Schalber "Prohibition  Policies" 

36 


Women's    Club    Meeting   at    No.    14    Center — This    Club    later    combined    with    the    Other 
Women's   Club   and   Added   the  Word   Civic  to   Its   Name. 

As  had  been  planned  when  the  Center  was  first  opened,  none  of 
these  speakers  nor  any  of  the  expenses  of  the  meetings  was  paid  out 
of  public  funds. 

The  Women's 
Clubs,  of  which  there 
came  to  be  two,  followed 
much  the  same  lines  as 
did  the  Men's  Club, 
discussing  at  length  such 
questions  as  "Child  La- 
bor", which  suggested 
the  cartoon  reproduced 
on  this  page.  They 
added  to  the  activities, 
which  the  men  took  up, 
a  social  affair  once  each 
month  in  which  they  en- 
tertained the  Men's 
Club.  The  expenses  in- 
curred on  these  occa- 

i  The  Question  of  Child   Labor   Is  One  That  the  Women's 

sions,    as    a    rule,    were  ciubs  Have  Faced. 

37 


borne  bv  the  men,  while  the  women  contributed  the  work  of  decorat- 
ing the  room,  providing  the  entertainment  and  serving  the  re- 
freshments. 

2.     GYMNASIUM. 

While  there  was  of  course  some  difficulty  in  interesting  the 
young  fellows  in  debating  and  other  parliamentary  club  activities 
there  was  no  difficulty  in  arousing  their  interest  in  gymnasium  work. 


Three   Evenings   Each   Week   the   Men   and   Boys   Use   the   Gymnasium — The   Evening   Begins 

With    a    Class    Drill. 

This  consisted  each  evening,  for  the  boys,  of  a  drill  with  dumb  bells, 
Indian  clubs  or  wands,  followed  by  class  work  on  the  apparatus  and 
then  a  basketball  game.  This  last,  of  course,  was  the  most  popular 
of  all  of  the  gymnasium  activities.  Each  of  the  clubs  had  a  first 
and  a  second  team  and  one  of  them  a  third  team.  A  basketball 
league  was  formed  and  a  series  of  games,  not  only  among  the  Social 
Center  teams  but  with  teams  from  outside,  was  played.  The  motto 
"lietter  lose  than  cheat''  was  suggested  by  one  of  the  fellows  and 
placed  upon  a  wall  in  the  gymnasium.  The  opportunity  for  develop- 
ing group  enthusiam  in  a  wholesome  friendly  environment  meant  much 
to  these  young  fellows. 

38 


The   First   Social   Center   Basket   Ball   Team  Was   a   Winner. 

At  a  meeting  held  this  year  to  consider  the  matter  of  extending 
the  Social  Centers  one  of  the  men  who  has  frequented  No.  14  from 
its  beginning  made  this  statement,  'The  second  time  that  I  was  in 
the  gymnasium  I  heard  one  of  the  boys  in  a  basketball  game  swear. 
I  have  attended  nearly  every  important  game  that  has  been  played 
since  that  time  and  have  been  in  the  gymnasium  on  other  occasions 
frequently ;  I  have  never  heard  another  Social  Center  fellow  use  im- 

39 


proper  language  in  the  gymnasium.  Throughout  the  year,  although 
all  sorts  of  boys  gathered  there,  there  was  never  developed  a  serious 
bit  of  bad  feeling  and  the  effect  of  this  gymnasium  work  in  inspiring 
clean  habits  among  the  boys  was.  in  two  or  three  instances,  strikingly 
apparent. 

The  girls  and  women  used  the  gymnasium  two  evenings  each 
week.  Their  activities  consisted  principally  in  floor  work,  folk  dances 
and  games  with  musical  accompaniment.  The  best  drill  work  was 
done  by  an  organization  calling  itself  after  the  name  of  the  woman 
director  of  the  gymnasium  "The  Xewton  Club."  The  accompanying 
illustration  shows  this  bodv  in  a  drill. 


"Newton"    Club — Special   Gymnasium   Class   at    14    Center. 

The  most  remarkable  thing  about  the  gymnasium  work  in  the 
Center  was  its  popularity  among  the  elderly  women,  there  being  some 
thirty  of  these  who  took  advantage  of  its  opportunities.  Unfortun- 
ately the  gymnasium  was  not  very  popular  among  the  men  in  the 
community.  This  may  have  been  due  to  the  fact  that  by  the  admis- 
sion of  school  boys  this  part  of  the  work  came  to  be  regarded  as  espe- 
cially intended  for  young  fellows. 

It  would  be  a  great  addition  to  the  equipment  for  physicial  exer- 
cise of  the  Social  Center  to  install  Bowling  Alleys.  The  desire  for 
these  was  frequently  expressed  during  the  year  and  a  movement  was 
set  on  foot  to  secure  them  by  private  subscription  among  the  men 

40 


and  women.  It  was  found,  however,  that  there  was  no  place  fitted 
for  their  installation  in  connection  with  Xo.  14  and  the  movement 
for  securing'  them  was  temporarily  abandoned. 

3.     LIBRARY. 

Considering  the  fact  that  the  traveling  library,  which  was  bor- 
rowed from  the  Albany  State  Library,  included  only  five  hundred 
volumes,  the  use  that  was  made  of  these  books  by  the  people  of  the 
community  was  more  than  enough  to  justify  the  slight  expense  which 


Reading  Room  at  No.    14   Center. 

this  part  of  the  Social  Center  equipment  incurred.  The  use  of  the 
magazines  and  daily  papers,  which  latter,  by  the  way,  were  donated 
by  the  several  publishers  in  the  city,  was  large.  The  table  games, 
whose  use  was  under  the  supervision  of  the  librarian,  were  of  course 
not  so  popular  as  the  gymnasium  activities,  but  when  any  group  of 
young  people  was  excluded  from  the  gymnasium  by  the  schedule  which 
gave  the  several  groups  special  training  there,  they  were  made  the  sub- 
.stitute  for  more  vigorous  recreation. 


41 


4.     GKXKKAL   EVENINGS. 

The  one  occasion  of  the  coming  together  of  all  of  the  people  in 
the  Social  Center  each  week  was  the  lecture  or  entertainment  which 
was  given  on  Friday  evening.  The  attendance 
at  these  meetings  was  limited  to  adults  and  mem- 
bers of  the  younger  clubs.  Even  with  this  limi- 
tation and  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  Assembly 
Hall,  in  which  these  meetings  were  held,  was  on 
the  top  floor  of  the  building,  it  __ 
was  frequently  necessary  to  sup-^4 
plement  the  seats  there  provided, 
with  chairs  brought  up  from  downstairs  and 
several  times  people  were  turned  away  on  account  of  lack  of  space. 

In  March  the  experiment  was  tried  of  using  the  East  High  School 
Assembly  Hall  instead  of  that  at  No.  14.  The  people,  however,  had 
gotten  into  the  habit  of  using  the  latter  and  although  the  Assembly 
Hall  in  East  High  is  a  much  more  attractive  room  than  that  at  No. 
14,  yet  it  lacked  the  home  atmosphere  of  the  Social  Center  and  after 
a  month's  use  the  experiment  was  given  up. 


Friday    "General   Evening"    at    No.    14    Center — The    Cost   for    Lectures    and    Entertainments 
Was  Less  Than   Seven  Mills  per  Attendance  the   First  Year. 


42 


The  programs  on  these  evenings  during  the  year  were  as  follows : 

Xov.     i,   1907 — Opening  Evening. 

Xov.    8,   1907 — Joseph  K.  Griffis. "My  Life  as  an  Indian'' 

Xov.  15,   1907 — Prof.  Woodland "Experiments 

in  Wireless  Telegraphy  and  Liquid  Air". 

Xov.  22,   1907 — Prof.  Chas.  W.  Dodge "Bacteriology"  illustrated 

Xov.  29,   1907 — Thanksgiving  Festival. 

6,  1907 — Dr.  C.  A.  Barbour "Bay  of  Naples"  illustrated 

13,  1907 — Col.  Moulthrop "Remains  of 

of  the  First  Residents  of  this  District"  illustrated 

Dec.   20,   1907 — Mrs.  W.  A.  Montgomery "The  Christmas  Spirit" 

Dec.   26,   1907 — Drama,  "The  Cricket  on  the  Hearth.' 

Jan.      3,   1908 — Italian  night,  music  furnished  by  an  Italian  Orchestra. 

Jan.    ID,   1908 — Raymond  Arnot "Xew  Zealand"  illustrated 

Jan.    17,   1908 — Prof.  Herman  Fairchild "Monroe  County 

One  Hundred  Thousand  Years  Ago"  illustrated. 

24,  1908— Rev.  J.  A.  Black  of  Buffalo "Ireland"  illustrated 

31,   1908 — Physical  Exhibition  by  the  Turn  Verein. 

7,  1908 — Minstrel  Show. 

14,  1908 — Dr.  G.  W.  Goler. . .  ."The  Face  of  a  Child"  illustrated 
21,  1908 — Rev.  A.  S.  Crapsey,  D.  D 

"What  did  Washington  and  Lincoln  Fight  For?" 

Feb.  28,  1908 — Rev.  Burnside  Steen "The  Dutch  and  the  Dykes" 

Mar.    6,  1908— Scotch  Evening.     Bag  pipe,  singing  and  recitations. 

Mar.  13,  1908 — C.  F.  Thorns "Egypt"  illustrated 

Mar.  20,  1908 — F.  W.  Deane,  Piano  Rectial. 

Mar.  27,  1908 — Rev.  P.  M.  Strayer "Life  Among  the  Cow  Boys" 

Apr.     3,  1908— Dr.  G.  W.  Goler "Tuberculosis"  illustrated 

Apr.  10,  1908 — Frank  C.  Dawley "Bird  Neighbors"  illustrated 

Apr.  29,  1908 — 'Play,  "The  Union  Station"  by  Social  Center  people. 

The  total  attendance  at  these  general  evenings  was  9,334,  an 
average  attendance  each  evening  of  373.  Of  these  twenty-five 
programs,  all,  except  two,  were  furnished  without  compensation.  Of 
the  two  speakers  who  were  paid,  one  received  a  fee  of  $10.00,  the 
other  a  fee  of  $5.00  for  his  services.  Traveling  expenses  for  three 
of  the  speakers,  and  cost  of  material  used  in  two  of  the  entertainments 
given  amounted  to  $50.00,  making  a  total  cost,  aside  from  the  neces- 

43 


sary  expenses  for  heating,  lighting,  janitor  service  and  supervision, 
of  Sn^.oo.  making  the  cost  for  special  entertainment  of  these  general 
evenings  less  than  seven  mills  per  attendance. 

The  generous  co-operation  shown,  not  only  by  those  speakers 
who  gave  their  services  freely  but  also  by  those  who  accepted  a  merely 
nominal  fee  for  their  services,  should  be  appreciated,  as  should  also 
the  excellent  service  of  the  orchestra  which  played  for  each  of  the 
meetings  without  compensation.  Of  course  it  is  probable  that  the 
Rochester  movement  will  come  to  the  policy  which  has  been  adopted 
from  the  beginning  in  the  great  lecture  system  in  Xew  York  Citv, 
of  paying  a  fixed  fee  for  this  public  service.  But  it  is  a  satisfaction 
to  know  that  while  it  was  not,  and  should  not  be  regarded  in  any  sense 
as,  a  charity  institution,  yet  in  its  first  year  it  had  this  proof  of  the 
good  will  of  the  people  of  special  talent  for  platform  expression. 


The   Women   and   Girls   Have   Appreciated   the    Center   Gymnasiums  from   the   Beginning. 


44 


5.     ATTENDANCE. 

Xot  counting  the  attendance  of  the  outside  clubs,  which  met 
during  the  year  in  Xo.  12  and  Xo.  20  School  Buildings,  the  Social  Cen- 
ter attendance  during  the  first  year,  from  Xovember  ist,  1907  to  May 
i^th,  1908,  was  25,022.  The  attendance  by  months  was  as  follows: 


Xovember, 

1907, 

3787, 

an 

average 

attendance 

nightly 

of 

146 

December, 

1907, 

3.550, 

an 

average 

attendance 

nightly 

of 

142 

January, 

1908, 

4,004, 

an 

average 

atendance 

nightly 

of 

153 

February, 

1908, 

4-032, 

an 

average 

attendance 

nightly 

of 

162 

March, 

1908, 

4.762, 

an 

average 

attendance 

nightly 

of 

177 

April, 

1908, 

4,189, 

an 

average 

attendance 

nightly 

of 

161 

May, 

1908, 

698, 

an 

average 

attendance 

nightly 

of 

87 

25,022 

Of  this  attendance  9,334  was  for  the  general  evenings  or  enter- 
tainments, the  remainder  including  the  attendance  in  clubs,  gymnasium, 
library,  etc.  The  attendance  during  the  month  of  May  was  that  of 
only  the  men  and  women  in  the  club  meetings,  the  regular  Social  Cen- 
ter activities  being  suspended  at  the  end  of  April. 


A   Saturday   Evening   Group   at    No.    14. 
45 


The     receipts     and     disbursements     for     Playgrounds,     Vacation 
Schools  and  Social  Center  work  for   1907  was  as  follows: 

Receipts. 
From   City    85.000  OO 

Disbursements. 

i 'laygrounds $2,857  IO 

Vacation   Schools    770  39 

Social    Center    \York i  .372  5 1 

Total    5,000  oo 

This  figure  of  81,372.51  covers  the  cost  of  equipping  Xo. 
14  Social  Center  and  maintaining  it  during  two  months,  November 
and  December  of  1907.  The  cost  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Center 
during  the  remainder  of  this  first  season  was  81,995.72,  making  a 
total  cost  for  No.  14  Social  Center  of  83.368.23.  Dividing  the  total 
expenditure  by  the  attendance  we  find  that  the  cost  per  attendance, 
including  the  use  of  the  gymnasium,  baths,  library,  reading  and  game 
rooms  as  well  as  lectures  and  entertainments,  was  a  little  over  12  cents. 
This  cost  was.  of  course,  somewhat  higher  than  it  would  be  in  suc- 
ceeding years  on  account  of  the  expenditure  for  permanent  equip- 
ment. 


"But  there  is  neither  East  nor 

West, 

Border  nor  breed  nor  birth, 
When  two  strong  men  stand 

face  to  face; 
Though  they  come  from  the 

ends  of  the  earth." 

— Kipling. 


46 


V 

INDICATIONS   OF   THE  SUCCESS   OF   THE 
FIRST  YEAR'S  EXPERIMENT 

On  March  5th,  Com.  J.  P.  B.  Duffy,  speaking  before  the  Men's 
Civic  Club  at  Xo.  14  made  this  statement:  "From  what  I  have  seen 
in  this  building  to-night,  the  Social  Center  has  been  carried  on  and 
appreciated  in  such  a  way  as  to  take  it  outside  the  limits  of  an  experi- 
ment. If  the  good  that  has  resulted  from  the  Center  in  this  community 
is  made  known  to  other  communities,  I  am  sure  that  within  a  few  years 
we  will  find  all  the  public  buildings  in  the  city  used  for  this  purpose." 

At  the  time  when  the  question  of  extending  Social  Center  work 
the  second  year  was  pending,  the  following  letter,  signed  by 
some  seventy-five  men  who  frequented  the  Center,  was  sent  to  the 
Mayor  and  Common  Council : 

To  the  Honorable,  the  Mayor  and  Common  Council  of  the  City  of 
Rochester : 

Knowing  that  the  question  of  extending  the  Social  Center  work 
of  the  Public  Schools  is  now  before  you  and  believing  that  the  judg- 
ment of  the  men  who  have  frequented  the  Social  Center  at  No.  14 
School  may  be  of  value  in  this  matter,  we,  the  undersigned  voters, 
residing  in  the  neighborhood  of  Xo.  14  School,  and  members  of  the 
Men's  Civic  Club  of  the  Social  Center,  declare  that,  in  our  judgment, 
the  opening  of  the  Public  Schools  in  the  evening  for  recreation,  read- 
ing and  club  meetings,  so  far  as  it  has  been  tried  at  Xo.  14  School,  is 
an  unqualified  success. 

Xot  only  does  it  give  opportunity  for  wholesome  athletic  exer- 
cise, literary  culture,  and  training  in  good  citizenship  to  the  older  boys 
and  girls  and  young  men  and  women  of  the  community  and,  in  its 
free  lectures  afford  opportunities  for  entertainment  and  instruction  to 
all  the  people,  but  especially  in  its  clubs  for  men  and  women  it  is  of 
great  value  as  a  place  for  the  discussion  and  understanding  of  civic 
questions  andN  the  development  of  a  good  community  spirit. 

In  our  opinion  there  could  be  no  more  wise  and  economical  in- 
vestment of  the  city's  money  than  in  the  extension  of  the  Social  Cen- 
ter movement,  and  we  do  most  heartily  endorse  the  recommendation 
of  the  Board  of  Education  in  this  matter. 

From  outside  of  Rochester  the  first  indication  that  the  Social 
Center  movement,  as  here  established,  was  to  attract  the  interest  of 

47 


other  cities  was  shown  in  the  use  which  was  made  of  the  experience 
of  Rochester  by  the  "School  Extension  Society"  of  the  City  of 
Columbus,  Ohio.  In  a  publication  of  that  organization  dated  Alarch 
31.  1908,  the  work  done  in  the  Rochester  Social  Centers  is  spoken  of 
as  worthy  of  imitation  by  that  city. 

The  official  endorsement  of  the  Social  Center  experiment,  tried 
out  in  Xo.  14,  was  contained  in  the  decision  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion to  extend  the  movement  to  include  at  least  three -Social  Centers 
during  the  following  year. 

The  proof  of  the  success  of  this  first  Social  Center,  however, 
did  not  find  its  strongest  expression  in  any  formal  statement  of  the  men 
in  the  Center  or  in  the  expressions  of  appreciation  from  those  out- 
side, the  best  evidence  of  its  success  was  given  in  the  informal  ex- 
pressions of  the  people  who  were  responsible  for  that  success,  the 
folks  of  the  neighborhood. 

Not  only  in  words  was  their  appreciation  expressed.  They  con- 
tinued to  meet  not  only  through  the  Social  Center  season,  but  on  into 
the  summer.  Each  of  the  women's  clubs  enjoyed  a  club  outing.  On 
July  25th,  at  Genesee  Valley  Park  a  Social  Center  picnic  took  place. 
Two  hundred,  fifty  people  sat  down  to  dinner  together  at  one-thirty 
on  that  day  and  afterward  enjoyed  a  concert  by  the  Park  Band  and  a 
series  of  games,  in  which  not  only  the  members  of  the  younger 
clubs,  but  men  and  women  took  part.  The  occasion  was  unmarred 
by  any  accident  and  was  a  fine  expression  of  the  spirit  of  the  Social 
Center.  To  quote  from  the  account  given  by  one  of  the  newspapers, 
"If  there  was  ever  the  slightest  doubt  that  the  Social  Center  brings 
people  together  into  one  great  happy  family,  it  was  dispelled  yester- 
day, when  at  Genesee  Valley  Park,  two  hundred  fifty  people  gathered 
at  the  picnic  of  the  Center,  which  has  been  maintained  at  No.  14 
School  during  the  past  year." 

This  was  a  fitting  postscript  to  the  interesting  chapter  which  No. 
14  Social  Center  wrote  in  its  first  year,  a  chapter  which  contained  the 
demonstration  of  the  fact  that  not  only  poor  people,  who  have  no  other 
clean,  pleasant  place,  but  that  those  also  who  are  eligible  to  the  most 
exclusive  circles,  need,  and  will  co-operate  to  make  successful  a  re- 
creational and  social  institution,  which  is  free  from  every  sectarian, 
partisan  and  class  limitation,  such  as  is  offered  in  the  Public  School 
Social  Center. 

48 


VI 

PLANS   FOR  CONTINUANCE  AND   EXTEN- 
SION  THE  SECOND   YEAR 

No.  14  Social  Center  during  the  year,  whose  record  is  given 
elsewhere,  was  regarded  as  a  successful  experiment.  However,  the 
Board  of  Education  decided  to  make  only  a  conservative  extension 
during  the  second  year.  It  was  planned  to  continue  No.  14  on  practi- 
cally the  same  lines  and  to  open  two  other  school  buildings  as  com- 
plete Social  Centers,  at  the  same  time  making  provision  for  club 
meetings  in  other  school  buildings  where  the  communities  showed  a 
desire  for  such  club  organization. 

The  Board  of  Education  had  asked  for  an  appropriation  of 
$24,581,  the  greater  part  of  which  to  be  used  for  Playgrounds,  Vaca- 
tion Schools  and  Grammar  School  Athletics,  the  remainder  to  cover 
the  expense  of  the  maintenance  and  extension  of  Social  Centers.  The 
amount  approved  by  the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment  and 
appropriated  by  the  Common  Council  was  $10,391.  Of  this  sum 
$1,995.72  had  been  used  to  maintain  the  Social  Center  and  the  expenses 
of  the  clubs,  which  met  after  the  close  of  the  Social  Center,  at  No.  14, 
from  January  ist  until  May  i5th.  $4,811.19  was  required  for  the 
Playgrounds  and  Vacation  Schools  during  the  summer.  This  left 
$3,591.09  for  the  equipment  and  maintenance  till  January  ist,  1909, 
of  the  Social  Centers  which  were  to  be  opened  in  the  fall. 

The  two  buildings  which  were  selected  for  this  extension  were 
those  of  West  High  and  No.  9  Schools.  The  choice  of  these  two 
buildings  was  made  primarily  because  their  location  would  follow  out 
the  original  idea  of  the  Social  Center  as  being  not  designed  for  the 
people  of  any  one  section  of  the  city,  but  for  all  sections.  As  No.  14 
had  been  chosen  for  the  first  Social  Center,  primarily  because  it  is 
located,  socially  and  geographically,  in  the  center  of  the  city's  life,  so 
it.  was  planned  that  the  two  new  buildings  to  be  opened  the  second 
year  should  be  in  widely  separated  sections  of  the  city,  one  of  them  in 
the  midst  of  a  largely  native  population  of  well-to-do  citizens,  the 
other  in  a  congested  district  where  many  foreign  born  Americans  have 
their  homes.  The  opening  of  West  High  and  No.  9  School  Buildings 
would  give  an  opportunity  for  trying  out  still  further  the  idea  of  the 
Social  Center  as  an  institution  for  the  whole  city. 

49 


West  High — The  Second   Building  To   Be   Opened   as   a   Social   Center  in    Rochester. 

In  view  of  the  limited  appropriation  three  lines  of  restriction 
were  decided  upon  and  three  special  circumstances  made  it  possible 
to  follow  the  plan  of  opening  Xo.  14,  West  High  and  No.  9.  These 
three  circumstances  were,  first,  Xo.  14  Building  had  already  been 
equipped  during  the  previous  year  so  that  little  money  would  be  re- 
quired for  this ;  second,  Xo.  9  School,  being  occupied  three  evenings 
in  the  week  by  Evening  School,  could  be  run  only  on  half  time  and 
this  building  was  already  well  equipped  with  shower  baths ;  third, 
West  High  School  Building  had  a  complete  gymnasium  and  bath 
equipment,  as  well  as  a  supply  of  dishes,  steropticon  lantern  and  refer- 
ence library  with  tables  and  chairs. 

It  was  decided  to  cut  down  expenses  as  follows:  first.  The 
Social  Centers  should  not  be  opened  on  October  I5th,  as  originally 
planned,  but  on  November  ist,  thus  saving  a  half  month's  expenses  in 
each  Center ;  second,  the  positions  of  director  of  the  Social  Centers  at 
West  High  and  at  Xo.  14  and  the  position  of  man  club  director  at 
West  High  should  be  occupied  by  the  supervisor  of  the  work,  thus 

50 


saving  the  amount  of  these  three  salaries ;  third,  the  equipment  already 
provided  should  be  made,  wherever  possible,  to  serve  for  the  newly 
opened  Centers.  For  instance,  it  was  decided  not  to  buy  a  stereopticon 
lantern  for  Xo.  9  Social  Center  but  to  use  at  both  Xo.  9  and  Xo.  14 
the  lantern  which  had  been  provided  for  Xo.  14. 

i.     CHANGES  IN  POLICY. 

The  great  fundamental  principal  of  the  Social  Center,  community 
co-operation  in  the  spirit  of  "The  Little  Red  School  House  back 
home"  with  free  discussion  and  full  liberty  for  spontaneous  develop- 
ments, was  to  be  adhered  to.  Three  minor  changes  in  policy,  how- 
ever, were  found  expedient. 

A.  Exclusion  of  School   Children. 

During  the  first  year  the  rule  had  been  to  admit  all  persons  over 
fourteen  years  of  age  to  the  Social  Center.  It  was  decided,  at  the 
opening  of  the  second  year,  to  exclude  all  children  who  attend  the 
Public  or  Parochial  Schools,  both  Grammar  and  High.  The  reasons 
for  this  limitation  were  three.  First,  The  opportunities  for  gym- 


One  of  the  Two  Gymnasiums   at  West  High   Center  Is  Used   for  Apparatus  Work. 

51 


nasiuni  work,  etc.,  which  the  Social  Center  offers,  being  limited, 
it  was  felt  that  those  who  had  not  the  chance  to  use  the  building  dur- 
ing- the  day  should  not  be  crowded  out  by  the  day  school  pupils. 
Second,  There  was  objection  on  the  part  of  the  School  Principals  and 
Teachers  to  the  scholars  having-  an  excuse  for  being  out  at  night,  on 
the  ground  that  this  caused  their  school  work  to  suffer.  Third,  It 
was  felt  that  the  large  attendance  of  children  prevented  the  quiet  en- 
joyment of  adults  in  their  attendance  at  the  general  lectures  and  enter- 
tainments in  the  Social  Centers. 

B.  Single  Large  Clubs  Instead  of  Many  Small  Ones. 

During  the  first  year  the  club  membership,  especially  in  the  clubs 
of  boys  and  girls,  had  been  limited  to  those  who  were  voted  into  mem- 
bership and  there  had  developed  several  clubs  of  boys  of  the  same  age. 
The  women  also,  at  No.  14,  had  been  divided  into  two  organizations. 
For  several  reasons  it  was  decided  by  the  clubs  themselves,  to  remove 
all  restrictions  as  to  membership,  counting  every  one  eligible  who  did 
not  prove  himself  unworthy,  and  combining  the  several  small  clubs, 
made  up  of  women  or  of  boys,  into  single  large  clubs.  These  reasons 
were :  First,  The  larger  audience  which  a  single  club  would  afford 
would  make  it  possible  to  secure  better  speakers  and  arrange  more  in- 
teresting programs.  Second,  It  was  felt,  by  the  clubs  themselves, 
that  the  broader  acquaintanceship  of  single  large  clubs  would  be  a 
greater  advantage  than  the  more  frequent  opportunities  for  debating, 
etc.,  connected  with  small  organizations.  Third,  It  was  decided  that  co- 
operation would  be  a  more  powerful  incentive  for  activity  than  group 
competition. 

C.  Opening  Social  Centers  on  Sunday. 

During  the  first  year  the  Social  Centers  had  been  open  each  even- 
ing of  the  week  excepting  Sunday  and  the  School  Buildings  had  been 
closed  on  that  day.  The  first  suggestion  of  opening  the  Social  Cen- 
ters on  Sunday  afternoon  came  from  one  of  the  merchants  in  the 
neighborhood  of  No.  14  about  a  month  after  that  building  was  opened 
as  a  Social  Center.  He  said  that  the  older  boys,  who  used  to  stand 
about  the  street  corners,  were  now  being  taken  care  of  in  the  evening 
by  the  Social  Centers,  but  they  were  on  the  corners  on  Sunday  after- 
noons. Why  not  let  them  come  into  the  School  Buildings  at  that  time  ? 
The  second  suggestion  came  from  the  mother  of  one  of  these  boys, 

52 


who  told  the  director  of  No.  14  that  the  worst  time  in  the  week  for 
her  son  was  Sunday  afternoon,  which  was  regularly  used  by  "the 
gang"  for  "crap-shooting"  in  a  neighboring  alley.  The  third  sugges- 


At  the  Same  Time  the  Other  One  Is  Used  for  Games. 

tion,  and  the  one  upon  which  the  Board  of  Education  acted,  was  in 
the  form  of  a  recommendation  from  the  Ministers'  Associations  that 
the  Social  Centers  be  opened  on  Sunday.  The  policy  of  opening  the 
Playgrounds  on  Sunday  for  the  use  of  the  people,  as  the  parks  are 
open  on  that  day,  had  been  tried  at  No.  9  with  the  result  that  the 
police  in  the  neighborhood  testified  unanimously  to  the  good  effect  upon 
the  community  of  providing  a  place  where  the  young  people  could 
spend  their  time  in  a  wholesome  environment  under  friendly  super- 
vision. In  view  of  these  things,  the  Board  of  Education  decided  that 
the  Social  Centers  should  be  opened  from  2 130  to  6  :oo  o'clock  on  Sun- 
day afternoons. 

2.     NEW  EQUIPMENT. 
A.  At  No.   14. 

During  the  preceding  year  the  room  on  the  top  floor  of  the  build- 
ing had  been  used  both  as  a  gymnasium  and  as  an  assembly  hall.  It 
was  decided  that  during  the  second  year  the  large  kindergarten  room 
on  the  ground  floor  in  the  rear  of  the  building  should  be  used  for  lec- 

53 


tures  and  entertainments,  as  \vell  as  for  the  large  club  meetings,  leav- 
ing the  room  upstairs  free  for  use  as  a  gymnasium.  This  required  the 
purchasing  of  a  number  of  chairs.  This  room  had  been  used  during 
the  preceding  year,  as  also  a  reading  room.  It  was  decided  to  place 
the  library,  which  should  be  borrowed  from  Albany,  in  the  small 
room  connected  with  the  kindergarten  room  and  to  use  this  smaller 
room  for  reading.  The  books  borrowed  from  Albany  the  preceding 
year  having  been  returned ;  a  new  set  of  five  hundred  was  secured  and 
subscriptions  were  taken  for  a  number  of  magazines  and  newspapers. 
In  the  middle  of  the  year  electric  lighting  was  substituted  for  the  un- 
satisfactory gas  lighting  in  the  lecture  room  and  the  walk  from  the 
street  to  the  Social  Center  entrance  was  provided  with  lights.  In  the 
gymnasium  a  new  wrestling  mat  was  installed.  Xo  other  equip- 
ment was  provided  at  No.  14. 

B.  At  West  High. 

As  has  been  said  above,  West  High  School  Building  was  already 
well  equipped  with  two  gymnasiums,  each  of  them  with  shower  baths, 


Everybody  Sings  at   No.    14  Social   Center. 
54 


one  for  the  use  of  boys  and  one  for  girls  in  connection  with  the  day 
school.  It  also  had  a  well  equipped  lunch  room,  and  a  good  reference 
library  with  chairs  and  tables,  and  a  stereopticon  lantern.  It  was 
only  necessary  to  install  wire  gates  which  should  shut  off  the  parts 
of  the  building  not  to  be  used  by  the  Social  Center,  to  add  to  the  library 
the  five  hundred  volumes  borrowed  from  Albany  for  circulation,  to 
subscribe  for  a  dozen  periodicals  and  to  purchase  a  half  dozen  table 
games  in  order  to  render  this  building  completely  equipped. 

C.  At    No.   9. 

At  Xo.  9  it  was  found  to  be  possible  to  keep  all  of  the  gymnasium 
activities  below  the  second  floor  and  wire  gates  were  provided,  shutting 
off  the  parts  of  the  building  not  to  be  used  by  the  Social  Center.  It 
was  decided  to  use  the  assembly  hall  for  the  gymnasium  as  well  as 
for  the  auditorium ;  and  a  removable  horizontal  bar,  parallel  bars,  a 
horse,  traveling  and  flying  rings,  climbing  ropes,  ladders  and  poles 
were  installed  in  this  room.  The  kindergarten  room  was  chosen  for 
the  meetings  of  the  clubs  and  a  number  of  chairs  were  purchased  to 
fit  it  for  this  purpose.  For  a  reading  and  game  room  the  class  room 
next  to  the  kindergarten  room  was  chosen,  tables  and  chairs  being 


Measurements  and   Strength  Tests   Are  Carefully   Made. 

55 


installed,  the  circulating  library  borrowed  from  Albany  and  maga- 
zines and  newspapers  also  being  placed  in  this  room.  In  connection 
witli  the  bath  room  in  which  showers  were  already  installed,  a  room 
was  cleared  and  fitted  with  clothes-racks  for  use  as  a  dressing  room. 
To  the  front  of  the  building  a  bulletin  board,  on  which  the  various 
programs  could  be  announced,  was  affixed,  and  Xo.  9  was  fitted  for  its 
use  as  a  Social  Center,  except  that,  as  mentioned  above,  it  was  neces- 
sary to  borrow  the  steropticon  lantern  from  Xo.  14. 

D.  At   Xo.   20. 

The  boys'  club,  which  had  been  organized  in  Xo.  20  under  the 
supervision  of  the  Principal,  had  maintained  itself  without  any  gym- 
nasium apparatus  through  the  preceding  season.  Basketball  goals 
were  installed  but  there  was  no  monev  for  any  further  equipment. 
Through  the  kindness  of  the  Turn  Yerein  a  somewhat  worn  pair  of 
parallel  bars  and  a  gymnasium  horse  were  secured  for  this  building, 
without  expense  to  the  citv. 

3.     DIVISION  or  TIME. 

The  schedule,  which  was  established  at  the  opening  of  No.  14 
Social  Center,  giving  Tuesday,  Thursday  and  Saturday  evenings  each 
week  to  the  men  and  boys,  Monday  and  Wednesday  evenings  to  the 
women  and  girls  and  leaving  Friday  evening  for  the  general  lecture 
or  entertainment,  was  kept,  Sunday  afternoon  being  added  to  the 
time  for  men  and  boys. 

At  West  High  the  same  general  plan  was  followed,  giving  Mon- 
day, Wednesday  and  Saturday  evenings  to  the  men  and  boys,  Tuesday 
and  Friday  to  the  women  and  girls,  Sunday  afternoon  to  the  men 
and  boys  until  the  Sunday  afternoon  choral  singing  should  begin, 
for  which  women  also  were  to  be  admitted,  and  leaving  Thursday 
evening  for  the  general  lecture  or  entertainment. 

At  Xo.  9.  the  building  beuig  used  for  three  evenings  of  the  week 
for  Evening  School,  the  Social  Center  activities  were  to  be  crowded 
into  the  other  three  evenings  and  Sunday  afternoon.  Wednesday 
and  Friday  were  to  be  used  by  the  men  and  boys,  Sunday  afternoon 
by  the  women  and  girls,  while  Saturday  evening  was  to  be  the  time  for 
the  general  lecture  or  entertainment. 

56 


4.     APPOINTMENT  OF   DIRECTORS. 

Considering  the  fact  that  the  Social  Center  in  Rochester  is  a 
pioneer  institution  in  many  ways,  so  that  it  was  of  course  impossible 
to  get  people  with  special  training  for  this  work,  it  is  a  remarkable 
proof  of  the  strength  of  its  fine  democratic  spirit,  that  in  no  case  has 
there  appeared  the  dictatorial  or  condescending  attitude  which  has 
been  criticised  in  the  directors  of  Public  School  Extension  work  in 
other  cities.  Such  an  attitude  seems  to  be  developed  where  the 
motive  of  Public  School  Extension  is  primarily  the  service  of  some 
one  section  of  the  population,  but  where,  as  in  Rochester's  Social  Cen- 
ters it  is  not  for  one  section,  but  for  all,  not  a  matter  of  service,  but  of 


Excellent   Work    Is    Done   in   the   Gymnasium   at    No.    9    Center. 

co-operation  and  exchange,  where  it  is  simply  "the  people's  getting 
their  money's  worth  out  of  their  own  property,"  in  the  fine  social 
spirit  of  the  little  Country  School  House,  such  an  attitude  would  not 
be  tolerated  for  a  minute.  The  directors  of  the  Social  Centers  are 
regarded  and  regard  themselves  as  servants  of  the  people,  substewards 
under  the  Board  of  Education.  The  position  of  the  director  not  only  is 
not  that  of  assumed  superiority ;  it  is  also  not  that  of  assumed  inferiority, 
but  a  delightful  comradeship  in  the  work  of  the  Social  Centers.  The 
directors,  in  many  instances,  came  to  be  members  of  the  clubs  and  in 
all  cases  were  to  be  fellows  with  the  others  in  the  Social  Centers. 

57 


The  only  difference  being,  that  they,  as  publicly  paid  servants,  were 
to  be  responsible  for  the  care  of  the  property  and  the  orderly  conduct 
of  the  Social  Centers. 

Practically  the  same  number  of  directors  as  at  No.  14  during  the 
first  year,  was  kept  in  each  Center  with  the  extension  of  the  work  this 
second  year. 

A.  At  No.  14. 

It  would  have  been  most  desirable  to  have  had  a  man  appointed 
especially  for  the  position  of  director  of  No.  14  Social  Center,  because 
this  position,  in  order  to  be  properly  administered,  would  require  the 
constant  attendance  of  one  person,  as  has  been  mentioned  above.  It 
was  continued,  on  account  of  the  lack  of  funds  and  the  difficulty  of 
finding  a  man  fit  for  the  work,  as  during  the  first  year,  in  the  hands 
of  the  supervisor.  The  direction  of  the  boys'  club  work  was  placed 
in  the  hands  of  a  man  who  had  shown  himself  remarkably  well  adapted 
for  work  with  boys  by  his  service  as  playground  director  during  the 
summer.  The  club  work  for  girls  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  woman 
who  had  shown  her  fitness  by  exceptionally  fine  playground  service, 
in  which  she  had  not  only  directed  the  girls'  and  childrens'  playground 
activities  during  the  regular  hours,  but  in  which  she  had  shown  devotion 
and  inventive  power  by  carrying  through  successfully  three  entertain- 
ments by  the  playground  children,  using  in  preparation  for  them,  the 
school  building  after  playground  hours. The  position  of  Librarian  and 
Quiet  Game  Director  was  rendered  more  difficult  this  year  by  the  neces- 
sity of  her  supervising  two  rooms,  but  a  competent  woman  was  found 
for  this  place.  The  gymnasium  work  of  the  men  and  boys  was  con- 
tinued in  the  hands  of  the  man  who  had  had  charge  of  it  during  the  first 
year.  The  gymnasium  work  of  the  women  and  girls  was  placed  in 
charge  of  a  competent  director.  A  man,  who  had  charge  of  the  play- 
ground work  at  No.  14  during  the  summer,  was  placed  in  charge  of 
the  doors  and  halls,  and  the  janitor  of  the  school  appointed  a  man  to 
take  care  of  the  building  at  night. 

B.  At  West  High. 

The  position  of  director  of  West  High  Social  Center  was  left 
vacant,  the  work  to  be  done,  as  well  as  time  would  allow,  by  the 
supervisor.  The  reasons  for  this  failure  to  appoint  a  director  at  West 

58 


High  \vere,  first,  the  lack  of  money  to  pay  a  competent  man,  and 
second,  failure  to  find  a  man  fitted  for  the  work,  who  was  free  to 
devote  his  time  there. 


Especially  by  the  Women. 


The  position  of  director  of  boys'  clubs  was  also  assumed  by  the 
supervisor  on  account  of  failure  to  find  a  person  fitted  for  this  work 
who  was  free  to  undertake  it.  The  club  work  for  girls  was  placed  in 
the  hands  of  a  woman  who  teaches  school  during  the  day.  The 
spirit  of  enthusiastic  co-operation,  which  the  Social  Center  tends  to 
develop,  was  shown  in  the  case  of  this  woman,  who  began  at  once  to 
give  twice  as  much  time  as  she  was  paid  for,  to  the  Center,  not  only 
because  of  her  interest  but  also  because  of  her  enjoyment  of  the  activi- 
ties there.  The  gymnasium  work  of  the  Center,  both  for  men  and 
boys  and  for  women  and  girls,  was  placed  in  the  competent  hands  of 
the  people  who  have  charge  of  the  gymnasium  work  of  the  day 
school.  The  director,  in  each  case,  was  given  an  assistant  because 
both  of  the  gymnasiums  in  this  building  were  to  be  used  each  evening 
in  Social  Center  work.  In  the  case  of  the  women's  work,  the  assistant, 
was  to  serve  also  as  pianist.  Wherever  it  was  possible  it  seemed  desir- 
able to  put  the  supervision  of  the  different  departments  of  the  Center 
in  the  hands  of  the  persons  who  have  charge  of  the  corresponding 

59 


The   Fencing   Master  at   West   High   Is  a   Scotchman,   Who   Says  That  the   Social   Center 
Realizes   His    Boyhood    Dream   of   "The   People's   Palace." 

work  in  the  clay  school.  This  policy  was  followed  in  the  selection  of 
the  secretary  of  the  Principal  of  West  High  School  as  librarian  in 
West  High  Center.  The  important  position  of  the  director  of  halls 
and  entrances,  in  whose  hands  would  be  the  care  for  the  order  here 
whenever  the  Social  Center  was  in  use,  was  assumed  by  one  of  the 
High  School  teachers.  On  account  of  the  fact  that  the  lockers  in 
connection  with  the  gymnasium  could  easily  be  opened  it  was  necessary 
to  have  a  man  present  in  that  room  to  prevent  the  boys  of  the  Social 
Center  from  borrowing  gymnasium  shoes,  etc.,  which  belonged  to  the 
day  school  pupils.  The  engineer  of  the  school  was  placed  in  this  posi- 
tion. As  at  No.  14,  the  day  school  janitor  selected  his  assistant,  who 
should  have  charge  of  the  evening  work. 

C.  At.  No.  9. 

The  directorship  of  the  Social  Center  at  No.  9  was  placed  in  the 
hands  of  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the  University  of  Rochester. 
Long  and  successful  experience  in  connection  with  the  "Boys'  Evening 
Home"  and  in  other  social  work  had  shown  him  well  equipped  for  this 
position.  His  appointment  was  a  guarantee  of  the  popularity  of  this 

60 


Social  Center.  The  boys'  club  work  was  put  in  charge  of  a  man  who 
had  well  served  as  club  director  at  No.  14  the  preceding  year.  The 
charge  of  the  girls'  club  work  was  assumed  by  a  young  woman  who 
in  Vacation  School  and  Playground  work  had  shown  herself  competent. 
The  position  of  librarian  and  game  room  keeper  was  given  to  a  woman 
who  knew  books  and  games  as  well  as  people.  The  gymnasium  work 
was  placed  in  charge  of  a  member  of  the  team  which  carried  the  name 
of  the  Rochester  Turners  to  victory  in  the  recent  gymnastic  competi- 
tion at  Frankfort,  Germany.  On  account  of  the  fact  that  the  bath  and 
dressing  room  are  on  another  floor  from  the  gymnasium,  it  was  neces- 
sary to  appoint  an  assistant  to  take  charge  of  these.  The  women's 
gymnasium  work  was  placed  in  the  competent  hands  of  a  woman  mem- 
ber of  the  Turn  Verein  with  an  assistant  to  act  as  pianist.  The  care  of 
the  halls  and  entrances  at  No.  9  was  put  in  charge  of  a  student  of  the 
University ;  and,  as  at  the  other  Centers,  the  janitor  selected  his  as- 
sistant for  the  extra  work  connected  with  the  Social  Center.  The 
pay  for  all  these  positions  was  at  the  same  rate  as  that  established  in 
No.  14  during  the  preceding  year. 

D.  At  No.  12,  No.  20  and  No.  36. 

The  supervision  of  clubs  of  boys  and  girls  under  21,  organized  in 
schools  outside  of  the  complete  Social  Centers,  had  been  secured  with- 
out charge  to  the  city  during  the  first  year.  In  this  second  year,  the 
policy  was  adopted  of  paying  these  club  directors  at  the  rate  of  $10.00 
per  month  for  giving  one  night  each  week  to  the  supervision  of  these 
clubs.  For  this  supervision  of  outside  clubs,  in  every  case,  the  persons 
chosen  have  been  those  who  occupied  similar  positions,  on  other  even- 
ings, in  the  fully  equipped  Social  Centers.  For  instance,  the  woman 
who  had  charge  of  the  club  work  in  No.  14  was  placed  in  charge  of 
the  club  work  for  girls  in  No.  12  and  No.  20  and  later  in  No.  36. 


"Men  exist  for  the  sake  of 
one  another." 

— Marcus  Aurelius. 


61 


VII 


BEGINNING   OF   ACTIVITIES  THE 
SECOND   SEASON 

i.     Civic  CLUBS  ASSEMBLE  BEFORE  CENTERS  OPEN. 

The  dates  set  for  the  opening  of  the  Social 
Centers  in  West  High,  No.  14  and  No.  9  were 
November  5th,  6th  and  7th,  but  the  Civic  Clubs 
did  not  wait  for  the  formal  opening  before 
they  began  their  season.  The  first  club  to  re- 
assemble was  that  in  the  Tenth  Ward  which 
uses  No.  7  School  Building.  On  the  i8th  of 
September  this  club  held  a  meeting  which,  by 
its  attendance  and  enthusiasm,  showed  that  the 
movement,  began  the  preceding  year,  was  not 
only  to  continue,  but  to  grow,  this  year. 

On  October  ist  the  Men's  Civic  Club  of 
No.  14  held  its  first  meeting  of  the  second  season.  It  had  been  decided 
in  the  spring  that  the  month  before  election  should  be  devoted  to  the 
presentation  of  the  several  party  platforms  by  a  representative  of  each 
of  them.  Beginning  with  an  address  on  "Why  Vote  for  Taft?"  by 
Congressman  J.  Breck  Perkins,  this  program  was  carried  through.  The 
interest  in  these  club  meetings  was  not  less,  but  as  at  No.  7,  greater  than 
that  which  had  been  shown  during  the  preceding  season. 

During  this  month  of  October,  the  club  at  No.  33  also  began  to 
hold  its  meetings.  This  club  had  started  with  the  policy  of  meeting 
once  each  month,  had  later  changed  to  two  meetings  each  month  and 
soon  after  the  opening  of  this  second  season  decided  to  meet  each 
week. 

On  the  evening  of  November  2nd,  three  nights  before  the  Social 
Center  in  West  High  was  to  be  opened,  sixty-two  men  of  the  district 
came  together  in  that  building  for  the  organization  of  a  Civic  Club. 
This  number  was  five  times  as  large  as  that  which  had  organized  the 
first  men's  club  and  nearly  twice  as  large  as  the  initial  gathering  of 
any  other  club  hitherto  formed.  The  spirit  of  this  organization  and 
the  enthusiasm  with  which  it  started  gave  good  assurance  of  the  desire 
on  the  part  of  the  people  in  that  district  to  use  their  school  building 
as  a  Social  Center. 

62 


Men's   Civic   Club   at   No.   9   Center. 

Two  nights  later,  on  the  4th  of  November,  the  men  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Xo.  9  School  gathered  there  for  the  organization  of  the 
fifth  Men's  Civic  Club.  As  at  West  High,  so  at  No.  9,  this  gathering 
of  the  men  in  the  community  before  the  Social  Center  was  formally 
opened  placed  the  stamp  of  the  community's  approval  upon  the  deci- 
sion of  the  Board  of  Education. 

2.     OPENING  OF  SOCIAL  CENTERS. 

On  Thursday  Evening,  November  5th,  West  High  School  Build- 
ing was  formally  opened  as  a  Social  Center.  As  at  the  opening  of  No. 
14  the  year  before,  the  president  of  the  Board  of  Education  was  the 
principal  speaker,  and  as  on  that  occasion,  so  now,  his  words  were 
memorable  because  of  the  definiteness  of  their  statement  of  the  Social 
Center  spirit.  "It  is  a  simple  thought  and  idea,  the  Social  Center,  but 
all  great  ideas  are  simple  and  this  is  one  of  the  greatest  for  the  com- 
mon good.  It  brings  men  of  all  classes  and  occupations  together  to 
labor  for  the  good  of  the  whole.  The  Civic  Club  is  of  the  essence  of 
democracy.  It  is  the  people  themselves  working  out  their  problems." 
Among  the  other  speakers  were  officers  of  the  Men's  Civic  Clubs, 
which  had  already  been  formed,  whose  words  were  in  the  same  tenor 
as  those  of  Prof.  Forbes,  An  indication  of  the  cordial  relations  be- 
tween the  Social  Center  and  the  day  school  activities,  similar  to  that 
which  had  been  given  in  the  co-operation  of  the  teachers  at  the  opening 
of  No.  14  the  preceding  year,  was  the  address  of  welcome  given  by  the 
principal  of  the  High  School.  In  that  address  he  said,  "On  the  experi- 
ence of  three  years,  I  feel  safe  in  pledging  the  West  High  neighbor- 

63 


hood  to  the  largest  co-operation  for  the  success  of  this  first  Social 
Center  to  be  established  in  a  High  School  Building."  In  addition  to 
the  addresses,  announcements  were  made  in  regard  to  the  division  of 
time,  the  opportunities  for  the  organization  of  clubs,  the  use  of  the 
gymnasium,  library,  general  evenings,  programs,  etc. 

As  at  the  opening  of  No.  14  a  year  before,  the  spirit  of  the  move- 
ment had  been  summed  up  in  the  epigram  of  one  of  the  citizens  present 
on  that  occasion,  "It  just  means  for  the  people  to  get  their  money's 
worth  out  of  their  own  property" ;  so  on  this  first  night  at  the  West 
High  Center,  a  citizen  of  that  neighborhood  said  it  all  in  a  sentence: 
"This  is  a  great  discovery,  to  find  that  we  have  a  beautiful  club  house, 
built  and  paid  for,  belonging  to  all  of  us,  and  already  for  use." 

On  the  following  night,  Friday,  November  6th,  1908,  No.  14 
Social  Center  was  formally  reopened.  The  women's  club  which  had 
been  holding  meetings  irregularly  throughout  the  summer,  served  re- 
freshments on  this  occasion  and  the  orchestra,  which  had  been  gathered 
again  after  the  summer  vacation,  furnished  music.  There  were  a 
number  of  speakers,  officers  of  the  various  clubs  and  others,  but  the 
words  of  the  Superintendent  of  Education  are  best  worth  preserving. 
Speaking  of  the  Social  Center  he  said,  "It  resembles  the  neighborhood 
life  in  the  New  England  rural  community  of  former  days.  There 
every  man  knew  his  neighbor.  These  individual  communities  were 
powerful  units  in  a  great  democracy.  An  open  forum,  the  absence 
of  political  jealousy,  the  co-operative  spirit  that  prevails  here,  all  give 
an  opportunity  for  careful  deliberation  and  help  to  the  formation  of 
right  judgments.  Recommendations  from  such  a  source  are  valued 
and  are  sure  to  be  more  and  more  sought  by  all  those  who  are  work- 
ing for  the  public  good." 

Many  people  in  the  community  had  expressed  an  almost  impatient 
desire  for  the  Social  Center  to  reopen  and  the  evening  had  the  cor- 
diality of  a  great  family  reunion,  a  sort  of  "Old  Home  Night." 

On  Saturday  evening,  November  7th,  No.  9  School  Building  was 
formally  opened  to  the  people  of  its  community  as  a  Social  Center. 
Any  one,  who  was  present  on  that  evening,  would  have  endorsed  the 
statement  of  the  newspaper  that  "The  sincerity  of  the  interest  of  the 
people  was  everywhere  evident."  The  president  of  the  Alumni  Asso- 
ciation of  the  school,  who  had  done  much  to  accomplish  the  opening 

64 


of  this  building,  the  Principal  of  the  school  and  the  president  of 
the  Jewish  Young  Men's  Association,  were  among  the  speakers. 
Commissioner  Isaac  Adler  used  in -his  address, -a  sentence  which,  as 
expressing  the  ideal  of  social  exchange  in  the  Centers,  might  be  taken 
as  a  motto,  "To  be  happy,  give:  to  be  successful,  take:  to  be  happy 
and  successful,  give  and  take."  The  final  speaker  of  this  evening  was 
the  man  who  was  to  serve  as  director.  His  reception  on  that  first 
night  was  a  pledge  of  success. 


No.  9  School  Building,  Joseph  Avenue  and  Baden  Street,  the  Third  To   Be  Opened  as  a 

Social   Center. 


3.     ORGANIZATION  OF   CLUBS. 
A.  In  the  Social  Centers. 

Under  the  head  "Changes  in  Policy"  the  combining  of  the  two 
women's  clubs  at  Xo.  14  into  one  club  and  the  combining  of  the  sev- 
eral boys'  clubs  of  the  same  age  into  one  were  spoken  of.  At  the  be- 
ginning of  this  second  year,  the  women's  clubs  decided  to  add  the 
word  "Civic"  to  their  name  and  so  to  proclaim  their  similarity  in  spirit 
to  the  men's  organizations.  One  of  these  Women's  Civic  Clubs  was 
formed  in  each  of  the  new  Social  Centers. 


65 


West  High  Social  Center  Coming  Civic   Club   Meeting. 

The  club  of  boys  between  17  and  21.  which  organized  in  each  of 
the  Centers,  took  the  name  "Coming  Civic  Club"  the  significance  of 
which  is  the  idea  that  the  citizenship  of  the  adult  Civic  Club  is  the 
center  of  the  Centers  to  which  the  younger  ones  are  coming. 

The  club  of  boys  between  14  and  17  in  each  of  the  Centers  took 
the  name  ''Future  Civic  Club'',  which  name  has  the  same  significance. 

Within  a  week  after  the  opening  of  the  Centers  all  of  these  clubs, 
as  well  as  organizations  of  young  women,  were  beginning  their  season's 
activities. 

In  addition  to  the  supervised  clubs  and  the  Civic  Clubs  there 
was  also  formed  in  Xo.  14  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  a  new  organiza- 
tion calling  itself  "the  Spontaneous  Art  Club."  It  was  made  up  of 
a  number  of  young  men  and  women  under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Alex- 
ander Jacubowitz,  an  artist  of  the  neighborhood,  for  co-operation 
in  artistic  expression.  This  club  was  to  be  open  to  any  one  who 
cared  to  join  it  and  to  hold  weekly  meetings  at  the  Center. 

B.  In  Other  School  Buildings, 
a — Supervised. 

The  clubs  which  had  been  formed  to  meet  in  School  Buildings 
Xo.  12  and  Xo.  20  were  reassembled  at  the  opening  of  the  second  sea- 
son. Within  two  months,  however,  the  wisdom  of  the  exclusion  of 
school  children  was  shown  by  the  fact  that  while  the  club  at  No.  20, 
in  which  this  rule  maintained,  continued  to  thrive,  the  two  clubs  in  Xo. 

66 


12,  which  were  made  up  largely  of  Grammar  and  High  School  pupils, 
were  abandoned  as  unsuccessful  after  continuing  for  two  months. 

In  December,  in  addition  to  the  'boys'  club  at  No.  20,  a  girls'  club 
was  formed  and  at  the  same  time  another  club  for  girls  at  No.  36 
was  organized.  Each  of  these  clubs  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  director 
and  adopted  the  policy  of  holding  weekly  meetings. 

b — Unsupervised. 

The  same  spontaneous  development  of  independent  Men's  Civic 
Clubs,  which  had  marked  the  Social  Center  movement  during  the  first 
year  as  essentially  democratic,  was  present  to  an  even  more  remark- 
able degree  in  this  second  year. 

In  one  district  after  another  the  men  in  the  communities  came 
together  to  take  advantage  of  the  opportunities  for  using  their  school 
buildings  as  places  for  the  dissemination  of  knowledge  on  public  ques- 
tions and  the  development  of  intelligent  public  spirit.  The  great  fact 
about  the  organization  of  these  Civic  Clubs  which  stamps  the  approval 
of  the  city  upon  the  idea  of  the  Social  Center  not  being  a  sectional  insti- 
tution, but  a  means  of  acquaintance  for  the  whole  city  is  the  fact  that 
they  came  to  be  formed  in  no  one  district,  but  in  every  section  of 
Rochester. 

On  November  I3th  in  No.  18  School  Building  the  sixth  Men's 
Civic  Club  was  organized  with  the  same  objects  as  those  of  the  clubs 
already  in  existence  and  with  the  plan  of  holding  weekly  meetings. 

On  November  27th,  the  men  in  the  neighborhood  of  No.  6  School 
came  together  to  use  that  building  for  meetings  in  the  public  interest. 
This  club  started  with  meetings  held  once  a  month,  but  soon  decided 
to  hold  meetings  twice  each  month. 

On  the  following  day,  November  28th,  the  first  Italian  Men's  Civic 
Club  was  formed  in  No.  14  School  Building  with  the  plan  of  holding 
a  meeting  each  Sunday  afternoon. 

On  December  i8th  the  ninth  Men's  Civic  Club  was  formed  to  meet 
once  each  month  in  No.  20  School  Building. 

On  December  22nd  Men's  Civic  Clubs  were  formed  in  school 
buildings  No.  36  and  No.  26,  the  first  to  hold  meetings  on  the  first 
and  third  Friday  of  each  month,  the  second  on  the  first  Friday  of  each 
month.  Soon  after  its  beginning,  the  club  in  No.  26  changed  to  the 
plan  of  meeting  bi-weekly. 

67 


On  January  I2th  the  second  Italian  Men's  Civic  Club  was  formed 
to  meet  every  Wednesday  evening  in  Xo.  5  School  Building. 

On  the  25th  of  January  a  Men's  Civic  Club  was  organized  in  Xo. 
23  School  with  the  plan  of  meeting  on  the  first  Monday  of  each  month. 

On  February  5th  the  fourteenth  Men's  Civic  Club,  the  seventeenth 
Civic  Club,  was  formed  in  Xo.  30  School  Building,  to  meet  twice  a 
month. 


"If  It  Should  Rain." 

4.  FORMATION  OF  THE  LEAGUE  OF  Civic  CLUBS. 
On  Tuesday  evening,  February  2nd,  sixty  delegates,  representing 
the  Men's  and  Women's  Civic  Clubs  then  organized,  which  use  the  pub- 
lic school  buildings  for  their  meetings,  assembled  in  the  Court  Room  in 
the  Municipal  Building  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  "The  League 
of  Civic  Clubs/'  The  reasons  for  the  organization  of  this  body  and 
its  purpose  may  be  taken  from  the  Preamble  to  its  constitution : 

PREAMBLE. 

The  steady  growth  of  the  Civic  Club  movement  from  its  beginning 
in  December,  1907,  when  there  was  one  club  with  twelve  members,  to 
the  present,  when  there  are  sixteen  clubs  with  1,500  members,  seems  to 
justify  the  belief  that  there  is  a  permanent,  real  need  of  non-partisan 
organizations  of  adult  citizens,  meeting  in  the  Public  School  Build- 
ings for  the  purpose  of  developing  intelligent  public  spirit  by  the  open 
presentation  and  free  discussion  of  matters  of  common  interest;  and 
that  the  Civic  Clubs  meet  that  need. 

To  increase  the  effectiveness  of  the  Civic  Clubs  and  to  further 
their  purpose,  especially  in  such  matters  as  the  securing  and  entertain- 
ing of  distinguished  visitors  to  the  city ;  in  giving  unity  to  the  expres- 
sion, through  the  various  Civic  Clubs,  of  the  people's  will  in  the  matter 
of  desired  legislation,  and  in  guiding  the  further  extension  of  the  Civic 
Club  movement  with  a  view  to  the  welfare  of  the  city  as  a  whole,  it  is 
desirable  to  form  a  central  league  or  federation  of  these  Civic  Clubs. 

We,  the  chosen  representatives  and  delegates  of  the  several  Civic 
Cubs  of  the  city  of  Rochester,  do  hereby  form  such  a  League  or 
Federation. 

68 


VIII 
THE  SECOND  YEAR'S   RECORD 

It  is  taken  for  granted  in  giving  the  account  of  this  second  year's 
activity  that  the  story  of  the  first  year's  record  is  familiar,  and  ex- 
planations of  the  various  developments,  where  they  are  similar  to 
those  of  the  first  year,  are  not  repeated. 

In  taking  up  the  various  developments  of  the  Social  Center  life, 
the  first  to  be  considered  is,  of  course, 

i.     CLUBS. 

In  "The  First  Year's  Record"  the  club  work  is  treated  under  two 
divisions,  clubs  of  boys  and  girls,  and  clubs  of  adults.  Here,  for  con- 
venience, the  division  is  made  more  complete. 

A.  Boys'    Clubs. 

The  selection  of  the  names  "Coming  Civic 
Club''  and  "Future  Civic  Club",  and  their  signifi- 
cance, have  been  mentioned.  The  motto  that  was 
chosen  by  one  of  these  clubs  "From  the  corners  to 
the  Center"  is  also  significant.  The  phrase  sug- 
gests the  larger  service  of  the  Social  Center  as  a 
place  where  people  of  different  groups,  political, 
religious  and  social,  who  occupy  various  corners  of 
our  fragmentary  life,  may  meet,  become  acquainted, 
broaden  their  outlook  and  develop  the  ability  to 
think  in  terms  of  the  whole  city.  But,  while  that  is 
the  greater  service  of  the  Social  Centers,  the  service 
that  is  first  suggested  by  this  phrase  "From  the 
corners  to  the  Center",  to  the  boys  and  young  men 
of  the  community,  who  would,  without  the  Social  Center,  be  spending 
their  time  on  street  corners,  is  a  great  one. 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  December  2Oth,  the  most  remarkable  evi- 
dence, that  has  appeared  thus  far,  of  the  value  of  the  Coming  Civic 
Clubs  as  a  means  of  training  boys  and  young  men  in  self  government, 
was  given  at  No.  14  Social  Center.  The  director,  coming  from  one  of 
the  other  Centers,  arrived  in  the  middle  of  the  afternoon.  When  he 
entered  the  building,  not  seeing  any  of  the  boys  about,  he  asked  the 

69 


doorkeeper  where  they  were.  "They  are  holding  a  meeting"  in  the 
Art  Room/'  he  answered.  "Who  is  with  them,"  asked  the  director. 
"Nobody,"  was  the  response.  "Don't  you  know  that  they  should  not 
be  in  that  room  without  a  director  present?"  "I  have  been  listening," 
replied  the  doorkeeper,  "in  the  hall  and  they  seem  to  be  orderly." 
The  director  went  to  the  Art  Room,  and,  opening  the  door,  found  be- 
tween thirty  and  forty  fellows,  sitting  in  perfect  order,  the  president 
in  his  chair,  the  secretary  beside  him  taking  the  minutes  of  the  meeting, 
and  one  of  the  youths  on  his  feet  presenting  the  claims  of  Air.  Bryan 
for  the  presidency.  The  director  sat  down  to  listen  to  the  discussion. 
After  the  speaker  had  used  his  allotted  time,  the  floor  was  given  to 
a  rival  claimant ;  and  so  an  orderly  triangular  debate  was  carried 


Coming  Civic  Club  Emblem. 

through.  "When  it  was  over,  it  was  learned  that  a  dispute  had  been 
started  in  the  hall  over  the  relative  merits  of  the  Republican  and 
Democratic  candidates,  A  year  before,  if  these  fellows  had  been  in- 
terested at  all  in  such  a  question,  a  dispute  would  have  led  to  loud  con- 
tradictions, possibly  blows.  In  the  midst  of  the  discussion  in  the  hall 
it  was  suggested  that  in  order  to  give  all  sides  a  fair  show  they  should 
hold  a  five  sided  debate,  with  two  defendants  of  the  claims  of  each 
of  the  candidates.  There  being  no  Independence  Leaguer  nor  Pro- 
hibitionist present,  it  was  finally  decided  to  make  it  a  triangular  debate, 
giving  the  one  socialist  youth  in  the  crowd  a  chance  to  speak  twice  to 
make  up  for  the  fact  that  there  were  two  Republicans  and  two  Demo- 
crats present. 

70 


Here  these  fellows  were,  holding,  on  their  own  initiative,  an  or- 
derly debate,  these  fellows  who,  a  year  before,  had  been  willing  to  do 
almost  anything  to  get  out  of  debating  in  the  club  meetings.  None  of 
them  was  a  school  boy,  and  some  of  them  were  fellows  of  the  "natur- 
ally agin  the  government  type." 

The  statement  of  the  object  of  one  of  these  Coming  Civic  Clubs 
was  that  day  shown  to  be  more  than  empty  words.  "The  object  of 
the  club  shall  be  to  train  its  members  for  citizenship  in  the  republic." 

In  addition  to  the  opportunities  which  are  offered  by  the  regular 
meetings  of  these  clubs,  for  the  demonstration  of  their  service,  there 
have  been  two  occasions  when  the  public  has  had  a  chance  to  learn 
what  they  mean  to  the  young  fellows.  One  of  these  was  in  the  ad- 
dress, called  for  and  given  without  preparation,  by  the  president  of 
the  West  High  Coming  Civic  Club  on  the  occasion  of  the  visit  of  the 
delegation  which  came  from  Buffalo  to  see  the  Social  Centers,  on  the 
1 4th  of  December.  No  one,  who  was  present,  could  fail  to  be  im- 
pressed by  the  words  of  this  young  man,  when  he  told  how  the  fellows 
of  that  neighborhood  appreciated  the  opening  of  the  Social  Center. 
The  other  was  the  address  given  by  the  President  of  the  No.  14  Com- 
ing Civic  Club  at  the  "People's  Sunday  Evening"  in  the  National 
Theater  on  February  7th.  Here  this  young  fellow  gave  the  chal- 
lenge ;  "How  do  you  expect  boys  to  grow  up  into  good  citizens  when 
they  have  nothing  but  the  training  of  the  street  corners?" 

The    same    plan    of    activity, 
which   w-as   established   during  the 
first    year,    has    been    followed    in 
these    clubs,    the    emphasis    being 
upon    debating.     The    clubs    have 
had  social  affairs  of  various  kinds. 
That  at  No.  14  has  given  a  second 
minstrel  show,  which  was  quite  as 
successful    as    that    of    last    year. 
The  club  at  West  High  entertained 
the  girls'  club  with  a  sleighride  and 
supper.     But  interest  in  the  club  life  centers  always  about  debating, 
and  the  attention  was   focused  upon  the  final  triangular  debate  be- 
tween teams  from  the  three  Centers,  which  met  to  compete  for  cham- 
pionship in  a  triangular  debate  at  West  High  on  April  I5th. 

71 


B.  Girls'  Clubs. 

The  activities  to  which  the 
girls'  clubs  have  been  devoted 
through  this  year  have  been  more 
of  a  social  character  than  those  of 
the  boys'  clubs.  The  girls'  club  at 
No.  14  has  continued  on  much  the 
same  lines  that  it  followed  during 
the  first  year.  The  club  at  West 
High  was  organized  primarily  as  a 
Shakespeare  study  club.  Portia, 
however,  soon  came  down  from  her 
pedestal  to  play  basket  ball  and 
through  most  of  the  year  gym- 
nasium work  has  played  a  large 
part  in  the  life  of  the  Wrest  High 
club. 

The  strongest  girls'  club,  in  point  of  numbers,  is  that  at  No.  9 
Center,  which  meets  on  Sunday  afternoon.  No  one  could  visit  a 
meeting  of  this  club  without  realizing  the  great  value  of  such  an  or- 
ganization of  young  women.  It  was  one  of  the  social  meetings  of  this 
club  which,  by  being  misunderstood  and  misrepresented,  afforded 
material  for  practically  the  only  hostile  criticism  that  has  been  made 
of  Social  Center  activities. 

This  social  gathering  took  place  on  Sunday  afternoon,  January 
i/th.  On  the  preceding  day,  according  to  the  usual  custom,  the  pro- 
gram for  the  week  following  had  been  submitted  at  the  Saturday 
morning  conference  of  the  Social  Center  directors.  This  program 
included  a  social,  with  a  few  of  the  girls  in  fancy  dress,  at  the  regular 
meeting  of  the  No.  9  young  women's  club,  which  was  to  take  place 
on  .Sunday  afternoon.  The  program  for  the  week  was  approved,  in- 
cluding this  social  affair  of  the  young  women's  club.  A  week  or  so 
later  one  of  the  newspapers  published  a  story  suggesting  that  the  affair 
had  been  of  an  unworthy  character  and  had  even  included  things  that 
were  scandalous.  L'nfortunately,  the  exact  facts  were  not  ascertained 
and  "The  Masquerade"  became  a  text  for  editorials,  in  which  the  di- 
rector of  No.  9  Social  Center  and  the  young  women,  who  had  partici- 
pated, were  more  or  less  harshly  criticised.  These  criticisms  were  in 

72 


both  cases  ill  placed.  The  director  of  No.  9  Social  Center  was  not  in 
the  slightest  degree  responsible  for  the  affair,  for  the  responsibility 
had  been  assumed,  without  full  comprehension  of  what  was  proposed 
to  be  sure,  but  nevertheless,  entirely,  by  the  supervisor.  The  young 
women  were  not  to  blame  for  the  affair.  Mothers  of  many  of  them 
were  present  in  the  building  so  that  they  were  well  chaperoned. 
There  were  no  men  present  to  dance  with  the  girls,  or  as  spectators. 
Of  the  seventy-five  girls  and  young  women,  about  half  a  dozen  were 
dressed  in  their  brothers'  clothes,  which  they  wore  to  the  Center  un- 
der their  outer  dresses,  removing  the  latter  after  they  arrived  there. 


Young  Women's  Civic  Club   Meeting  on  Sunday  Afternoon  at   No.   9. 

None  of  them  was  a  school  girl  and  they  were  all  over  fourteen  years 
of  age.  The  use  of  Sunday  was  due,  not  to  their  choice  of  this  day 
for  a  social  affair,  but  to  the  fact  that  this  is  the  only  day  when  the 
women  have  the  privilege  of  using  this  building  for  their  meetings. 
Only  by  an  unusually  high  standard  of  ethical  judgment,  built  upon 
reverence  for  those  things  which  others  revere,  a  regard  which  they 
have  seldom  seen  maintained  in  the  attitude  of  others  toward  their 
race  in  this  country,  could  the  slightest  blame  be  laid  upon  these  young 
women,  for  they  were  all  Jewish  people,  to  whom  the  day  is  not  more 
sacred  than  is  Saturday  to  the  Gentile.  The  young  women  of  No.  9 
Social  Center  did  nothing  which,  from  their  point  of  view,  which  is 

73 


an  exceptionally  high  and  fine  one,  was  worthy  of  criticism.  \\  hat- 
ever  blame  may  be  attached  to  the  affair  belongs  entirely  to  the  su- 
pervisor. 

Of  the  girls'  clubs,  which  have  been  conducted  this  year  outside 
of  the  complete  Social  Centers,  two  of  them,  those  in  Xo.  20  and  Xo. 
36  Schools,  were  made  up  entirely  of  girls  who  were  out  of  school, 
the  third,  in  Xo.  12,  was  largely  made  up  of  school  girls.  After  two 
months,  comparison  of  the  spirit  shown  and  the  work  done  in  these 
three  clubs,  confirmed  the  wisdom  of  the  decision  which  the  Board  of 
Education  had  made  regarding  the  new  clubs  in  excluding  those  who 
attended  day  school,  and  the  club  at  Xo.  12  was  disbanded.  The 
other  two  clubs,  however,  have  met  each  week  since  their  formation. 
In  addition  to  the  regular  business  meetings,  each  of  these  clubs  has 
presented  a  play  for  which  much  faithful  rehearsing  was  done. 
Each  of  them  has  successfully  conducted  a  number  of  debates.  Each 
of  them,  in  spite  of  the  almost  entire  absence  of  equipment  for  gym- 
nasium work,  has  made  this  a  successful  and  profitable  year. 

In  all  of  the  girls'  clubs  the  same  tendency,  which  is  shown  by 
the  other  clubs  toward  a  fair  balance  between  serious  work  and  re- 
creation, is  apparent.  Organized  work  in  singing  has  been  begun  in 
each  of  these  clubs  and  it  is  probable  that  some  excellent  developments 
of  this  kind  may  be  expected  during  the  coming  year. 


74 


C.  Women's  Clubs. 


The  character  of  the  Women's  Civic  Clubs  may  be  shown  by  quot- 
ing the  preamble  of  the  Constitution  of  the  one  which  meets  at  West 

High  Social  Center  on  Tuesday 
evening,  and  giving  the  topics  and 
attendance  at  its  meetings.  This 
Constitution  and  program  are  typi- 
cal of  all  three  of  these  clubs. 

PREAMBLE. 

Whereas,  we  as  Twentieth 
Century  women  have  duties  to 
society,  to  our  homes  and  to  our- 
selves which  demand  that  we  be 
well  informed  upon  public  ques- 
tions and»that  we  have  broad  sym- 
pathy with  our  fellows : 

And  whereas,  organization  for 
securing  public   speakers,    for   dis- 
cussions,    debates,     entertainments 
and  all  sorts  of  wholesome  gather- 
ings, is  among  the  best  means  for 
the  attainment  of  these  ends : 

And  whereas,  the  public  school 
building  is  the  best  available  place 
for  such  organization. 

We,  whose  names  are  hereunto 
annexed,  do  form  ourselves  into  a 
society,  to  hold  meetings  in  the 
Public  School  Building  for  listening 
to  public  speakers,  for  discussions, 
debates,  entertainments  and  all  sorts 
of  wholesome  social  gatherings,  to 
the  end  that  we  may  gain  for  our- 
selves, and  for  the  community,  in- 
telligence upon  public  questions  and 
sympathetic  acquaintance  with  our 
fellows." 

75 


The  programs  of  the  meetings  of  this  club  and  the  attendance  at 
these  meetings  through  the  year,  have  been  as  follows : 

Nov.  10,   1908 — Organization.     51  present. 

Nov.  17,   1908 — Election    of    officers,    address,    ''Child    Labor,"    Airs. 

Elmer  Bissell.     79  present. 

Nov.  24..   1008 — Acquaintance  Meeting.     120  present. 
Dec.      i,   1908 — Address   "Woman's   Suffrage,"   Mrs.   W.    C.   Gannett, 

82  present. 
Dec.     8,   1908 — Preparation    for    entertaining    Buffalo    delegates.     92 

present. 
Dec.   22,   1908 — Debate,   "Capital   Punishment   Should  be   Abolished." 

68  present. 
Dec.   29,   1908 — Address,  "Social  Purity,''  Rev.  A.  S.  Crapsey,  D.  D. 

74  present. 
Jan.      5,   1909 — Address,    "Free   Text   Books,"    Mrs.    Mabel    Kennon. 

68  present. 
Jan.    12,   1909 — Address,  "New  Station  Plans,"  Com.  J.  P.  B.  Duffy. 

54  present. 

Jan.    19,   1909 — Parliamentary  Drill  by  Mrs.  S.  Lewis.     63  present. 
Jan.    26,   1909 — "Six  O'clock  Closing  Movement."     256  present. 
Feb.     2,   1909 — Social  and  Musical  Evening.     68  present. 
Feb.     9,   1909 — -Address,  "Care  of  Delinquent  Children,"  Supt.  C.  F. 

Carroll.     40  present. 
Feb.    1 6,   1909 — Address,  "Good  Taste  in  Home  Art,"  F.  H.  Carpenter. 

34  present. 
Feb.   23,   \()O'.) — Address,    "The    Emanuel    Movement,"    Rev.    J.     B. 

Thomas.     58  present. 
Mar.    2,   1909 — Address,  "Public  Health  and  Sanitation,"  Prof.  C.  W. 

Dodge.     39  present. 

Mar.    9,   1909 — Social  and  Musical  Evening.     40  present. 
Mar.  1 6,  1909— Address,  "The  Shadow  Hunter,"  Prof.  K.  P.  Shedd, 

and  women's  gymnasium  meet.     126  present. 
Mar.  23,   1909 — Entertainment  of  No.  9  and  No.   14  Women's  Clubs. 

200  present. 

Mar.  30,   1909 — 'Hisiness  Meeting.     54  present. 
Apr.     5,  1909 — Election  of  Officers.     63  present. 
Apr.   12,   1909 — "Review  and  Forecast."     78'present. 

76 


As  may  be  seen  by  the  photograph,  given  on  page  103,  of  the  pres- 
ent officers  of  one  of  the  \Yomen's  Clubs,  the  same  ideally  representative 
character,  which  has  marked  the  Men's  Club  organization,  and  indeed 
all  of  the  Social  Center  developments,  is  illustrated  in  these  Women's 
Clubs.  Meeting  in  the  earnest  consideration  of  common  problems, 
differences  of  race  or  creed  only  add  to  the  interest  of  this  acquaint- 
anceship. In  this  broad,  fine  atmosphere,  pettyness  has  never  appeared. 

The  word  "Civic"  is  no  misnomer.  The  main  business  of  these 
clubs  is  the  dissemination  of  intelligence  on  public  questions.  At  the 
same  time  a  strong  emphasis  is  laid  upon  social  activities.  A  fine 
illustration  of  this  sort  of  program  was  the  "Recipe  Exchange"  which 
the  Xo.  14  \Yomen's  Civic  Club  held  on  Monday  evening,  March  22, 
1909.  Each  of  the  members  of  the  club  brought  a  dish  of  her  favorite 
cooking  and  a  recipe  for  preparing  it.  The  various  dishes  were"  placed 
upon  the  table ;  the  recipes  were  written  on  the  board  and  copied 
by  each  of  the  members.  The  evening  closed  by  the  serving  of  the 
favorite  dishes,  a  sample  of  each  for  every  member.  These  meetings 
are  not  at  all  "dress"  occasions,  the  women,  as  a  rule,  leaving  their  hats 
in  the  cloak  room  and  spending  the  hour  without  formality. 

Xot  only  have  these  clubs  served  to  bring  together,  upon  a  com- 
mon ground  of  acquaintance  the  women  of  each  community,  but  they 
have  also  served  to  acquaint  the  women  of  the  different  sections  of  the 


Acquaintance   Evening   No.    14   and  West   High  Women's   Civic    Club   at   No.    14. 

77 


city  with  each  other,  each  of  the  clubs  having-  entertained  during  the 
year,  the  members  of  the  Women's  Clubs  from  the  other  Social  Centers. 
In  addition  to  the  social  affairs  carried  on  by  the  women  among  them- 
selves, it  has  been  the  custom  of  the  Women's  Civic  Clubs,  particularly 
of  that  in  Xo.  14  Center,  to  entertain,  about  once  a  month,  the  Men's 
Civic  Clubs.  On  these  occasions  refreshments  are  served  and  a  special 
program  of  music  is  provided.  The  usual  plan  is  for  the  Men's  Club 
to  pay  the  expenses  and  the  women  to  serve  the  refreshments  and  pro- 
vide the  program.  All  such  affairs  have  been  carried  on  without  ex- 
pense to  the  city. 

The  most  notable  of  these  occasions,  and  indeed  one  which  marks 
the  peculiar  service  of  the  Social  Center,  took  place  at  Xo.  14  on  the 
night  of  February  22nd,  when  the  Women's  Civic  Club  entertained  the 
Italian  Men's  Civic  Club.  This  Women's  Civic  Club  is  made  up,  almost 
entirely,  of  American  born  women.  The  majority  of  the  Italian  Men's 
Civic  Club  are.  more  or  less  recent  immigrants,  who  do  not  speak 
English  flucntlv.  The  whole  evening  was  one  of  exceptionally  fine 
spirit,  one  woman  remarking  that  never  before  had  she  realized  that 
"people  who  are  so  different  are  so  much  the  same."  "I  never  realized 
before  how  interesting  humanity  is."  she  said.  The  climax  of  the  even- 
ing was  in  the  presentation  by  the  Women's  Civic  Club  of  a  silk  Italian 
flag  to  the  Italian  Men's  Civic  Club,  and  the  presentation  in  return  by 
the  Italian  Men's  Civic  Club  to  the  women,  of  a  handsome  picture  of 
George  Washington.  Together  they  hang  in  the  Social  Center,  the 
emblem  of  the  internationalism,  the  humanity  that  recognizes  race  dif- 
ferences as  lines,  not  for  prejudice  or  hatred,  but  to  be  rejoiced  in  be- 
cause they  bring  diversity  and  interest  to  the  larger  human  unity. 
Two  weeks  later  the  Italian  men  entertained  the  \Vomen's  Civic  Club 
and  presented  to  them  a  silk  American  flag. 

It  may  be  well  to  give  here  a  brief  account  of  the  entertainment 
of  the  delegation  of  thirty-one  people,  who  came  from  Buffalo  on 
December  I4th  to  visit  the  Social  Centers,  because  the  serving  of  the 
refreshments  on  that  occasion  was  in  the  hands  of  the  Women's  Civic 
Club  at  West  High,  although  the  Men's  Civic  Club  bore  the  expenses 
of  that  entertainment. 

Six  of  the  party  came  on  the  I3th  to  see  the  Sunday  activities  in  the 
Centers  and  visited  Xo.  14,  Xo.  9  and  West  High.  The  remainder  of  the 
party  came  on  the  afternoon  of  the  I4th.  They  were  served  with  supper 

78 


in  the  '\Yest  High  Lunch  Room  and  then  gathered  with  the  crowd  of  be- 
tween eight  hundred  and  one  thousand  people  in  the  Assembly  Hall. 
The  chairman  of  this  meeting  \vas  the  president  of  the  Men's  Civic  Club 
at  \Yest  High.  An  address  of  welcome  was  given  by  Hon.  Charles  E. 
Ogden.  Secretary  to  the  Mayor,  who  spoke  for  him,  to  quote  from  a 


Rip's  Awake;  but  Schneider — 

newspaper  report  "Of  the  inspiration  the  Civic  Clubs  give  to  the  city 
officials,  and  how,  through  these  institutions,  those  who  govern  find  out 
the  needs  and  desires  of  the  governed."  Mr.  Albert  L.  Williams,  who 
headed  the  visiting  delegation  then  asked  the  questions  regarding  the 
Social  Centers,  which  the  visitors  wanted  answered.  They  embraced 
all  phases  of  the  work.  Prof.  George  M.  Forbes,  president  of  the 

79 


Hoard  of  Education,  was  called  upon  to  answer  these  questions 
Among-  other  things  he  said,  "The  fundamental  principle  in  the  Socia! 
Center  work  is  that  it  is  work  done  for  the  community  hy  the  people 
themselves.  A  unifying  force  in  the  Social  Center  is  the  Civic  Club 
From  these  clubs  goes  forth  a  community  spirit  that  concerns  itselJ 
not  with  anv  narrow  boundaries  of  ward  or  district,  but  with  the  bet- 
terment of  the  whole  city.  It  is  the  greatest  advance  that  has  yel 
been  made  toward  a  fundamental  democracy."  Answering  the  ques- 
tion as  to  the  conditions  which  fostered  the  growth  of  the  Social  Cen- 
ter idea  Prof.  Forbes  said,  "The  Social  Center  is  the  result  of  a  move- 
ment which  has  been  growing  in  Rochester  for  several  years.  It  is 
the  movement  toward  a  better  civic  spirit  and  had  its  inception  in  the 
good  government  agitation,  which  a  few  years  ago  leavened  the  whole 
city  with  its  high  standards  and  ideals  of  civic  life."  Answering 
questions  as  to  the  freedom  of  discussion  he  said,  "Xo  one  has  a  righi 
to  try  to  regulate  what  citizens  shall  talk  about  in  their  own  building.' 
Mrs.  Helen  Montgomery  then  spoke  of  the  forces  behind  the  Socia 
("enter  movement,  and  of  what  the  Social  Centers  mean  to  the  women 
Rev.  James  M.  Hutchinson  spoke  for  the  friendly  attitude  of  the 
churches  toward  the  movement.  The  address  of  the  president  of  the 
XYest  High  Coming  Civic  Club  on  "What  the  Social  Center  Means  tc 
the  Boys,"  has  already  been  mentioned.  Mr.  Sidney  R.  Clark,  Secretan 
of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  was  the  speaker  on  the  cordial  attitude 
of  business  men  toward  the  movement.  Following  him  there  were 
brief  addresses  from  officers  representing  the  several  clubs.  Aftei 
the  addresses  the  people  went  to  the  lunch  room  below  and  were 
there  served  by  the  Women's  Civic  Club  of  Wrest  High.  There  were 
nearly  a  thousand  present  and  yet  there  was  no  confusion  and  the  even 
ing  was,  from  first  to  last,  a  successful  presentation  to  the  guests  frorr 
the  neighboring  city,  of  the  spirit  of  the  Social  Center.  The  leader  o: 
the  visiting  party  said  as  he  left,  "I  do  not  know  whether  there  is  sticJt 
a  thing  as  social  electricity,  but  I  have  never  been  in  an  atmosphere  se 
charged  with  it  before." 

D.  Men's  Clubs. 

The  Men's  Civic  Clubs,  differing  with  the  different  communitie: 
in  which  they  have  been  organized,  have  all  kept,  throughout  this  year 
the  same  character  of  broad  civic  interest  and  freedom  which  markee 
those  organized  last  year. 

80 


In  the  account  of  the  organization  of  No.  14  Men's  Civic  Club  is 
given  the  statement  of  Aid.  Frank  A.  Ward,  regarding  the  value  of 
such  an  organization,  which  he  made  at  the  second  meeting  of  this  club. 

A  statement  that  may  well  be  put  with  that  of  Aid.  Ward  was 
made  at  the  organization  meeting  of  the  Civic  Club  formed  in  No.  30 
School  Building  on  February  5th,  when  Aid.  Wm.  Buckley  said,  "The 
value  of  a  Civic  Club  from  the  point  of  view  of  the  private  citizen 
has  been  stated.  I  want  to  say  a  word  in  regard  to  its  value  from  the 
point  of  view  of  the  public  servant.  An  alderman  is  elected  to  rep- 
resent the  people ;  a  good  alderman  wants  to  represent  the  people,  but 
how  in  the  world  can  he  represent  the  people  unless  he  knows  what  the 


First    Anniversary   Banquet   of   the    Men's    Civic    Club   at    No.    14    Center. 

people  want?  And  how  shall  he  know  what  the  people  want  unless 
they  tell  him?  I  welcome  the  Civic  Club  because  it  will  give  me  an 
opportunity  to  learn  the  will  of  the  people  in  this  neighborhood." 

On  December  loth  a  banquet  was  given  in  celebration  of  the  first 
anniversary  of  the  first  Men's  Civic  Club  in  No.  14  Social  Center.  Over 
two  hundred  men  and  women  were  present,  among  whom  were  repre- 
sentatives of  the  nine  other  adult  Civic  Clubs  which  had  been  formed 
within  the  year.  Among  the  speakers  was  Prof.  Charles  Zeublin.  He 
said,  "The  only  way  to  work  out  our  problems  is  to  discuss  them  freely 
and  in  the  open.  Rochester  is  the  home  of  free  speech.  Here  you 
can  discuss  anything  you  wish  in  your  Public  School  Buildings,  while 

81 


in  many  other  American  cities,  the  minute  you  open  your  month  on  a 
public  question  a  cordon  of  police  appears,  to  stop  you."  He  spoke 
further  of  the  Civic  Club  movement  as  a  real  factor  in  constructive 
democracy.  Among  the  other  speakers  were  the  president  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  Rev.  A.  S.  Crapsey,  D.  D.,  and  the  former  presi- 
dents of  the  club.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that  the  first  Social  Center 
songs  were  used.  One  of  the  newspapers  had  mentioned  in  an  editorial 
that,  so  far  as  the  writer  knew,  free  discussion  was  not  permitted  in 
meetings  held  in  Public  School  Buildings  in  other  cities.  This  edi- 
torial suggested  the  thought  which  is  carried  in  the  "Anniversary 
Song."  which  was  written  for  this  occasion  and  sung  with  great  gusto. 


ANNIVERSARY   SONG 

Written  for  the  Second  Anniversary  Banquet  of  the  Men's  Civic  Club, 
No.  14  Social  Center,  Dec.  10,  1908. 

Air:     ''When  Johnny  Comes  Marching  Home." 

I. 

'Twas  not  so  very  long  ago. 

Hurrah !        Hurrah ! 

The  pioneers  have  told  us  so, 

Hurrah !       Hurrah ! 

Twleve  good  men  came  to  the  Center, 

And  said :     "If  we  are  going  to  enter, 

We'll  talk  about  the  things 

We  want  to  talk  about. 

Yes, — we'll  talk  about  the  things 

That  ought  to  be  talked  about." 

II. 

And  so  these  men  did  organize, 

Hurrah !       Hurrah ! 
And  other  clubs  began  to  rise, 

Hurrah !       Hurrah ! 

82 


And  all  the  time  \ve  did  not  know 
What  it  was  that  made  us  grow, 

Twas  talk-ing  about  the  things 

We  wanted  to  talk  about, 

Yes, — 'twas  talk-ing  about  the  things 

That  ought  to  be  talked  about. 

III. 

And  now  of  other  towns  they  say — 
Hurrah !       Hurrah ! 

And  we  are  hearing  it  every  day 
Hurrah !       Hurrah ! 

That  of  the  things  that  can't  be  done 

In  the  school  house — this  is  one  : 
To  talk  about  the  things 
Folks  want  to  talk  about, 
Yes — to  talk  about  the  things 
That  ought  to  be  talked  about. 

IV. 

And  now  they're  coming  from  Buffalo, 
Hurrah !      .Hurrah ! 

A  place  where  we're  considered  slow, 
Hurrah !       Hurrah ! 

To  learn  of  the  Social  Center  plan, 

And  how  we  make  it  that  every  man, 
Can  talk  about  the  things 
He  wants  to  talk  about, 
Yes, — Can  talk  about  the  things 
That  ought  to  be  talked  about. 


Another  song  which  was  sung  at  this  meeting  for  the  first  time 
was  the  following.  The  form  is  doggerel,  but  the  content,  because  it 
expresses  the  real  place  of  the  Social  Center  in  the  community  life, 
made  it  almost  immediately  popular. 

83 


THE  SOCIAL   CENTER 

Air :     "Mr.  Dooley." 

I. 

There  are  sev-ral  parties  here  in  our  communitee. 
Republican  and  Democrat  and  Socialist — that's  three. 
They  never  get  together  just  because  they  disagree; 
But  there's  a  place  where  all  of  them  can  talk  things  over  free. 

CHORUS: 

Its — at — the — Center. 
The  Social  Center. 

The  place  where  everybody  feels  at  home : 
Forgets  th'  external 
And  gets  fraternal ; 
There's  something  doing  there — you'd  better  come. 

II. 

There  are  many  churches  here,  all  teaching  brotherhood ; 
Some  of  them  are  better  and  all  of  them  are  good. 
But  Catholic  and  Protestant  and  Jew  are  kept  apart. 
There's  just  one  place  where  we  all  know  that  we  are  one  in  heart. 

CHORUS: 

III. 

There  are  a  lot  of  races  here  in  our  com-mun-itee ; 
English — French — Italian — Greek — Dane — Swede — Hindoo — Chinee 
And  sometimes  they  forget  that  we  are  all  one  familee; 
But  there's  a  place  where  this  is  just  the  fact  that  you  will  see. 

CHORUS  : 

IV. 

Xow  there  are  some  distinctions  that  are  seen  upon  the  street 
For  some  folks  ride  in  auto  cars  and  some  ride  on  their  feet, 
And  worry  about  the  price  of  clothes  comes  in  and  spoils  the  fun, 
But  there's  a  place  where  hats  are  off  and  rich  and  poor  are  one. 

CHORUS  : 

V. 

There  are  little  social  circles  here,  each  with  its  coterie ; 
Some  in  saloons,  some  pedro  cliques — some  soaking  up  pink  tea. 
Hut  everyone  is  glad  there  is  a  place  where  each  one  gets 
A  chance  to  be  acquainted  with  the  folks  in  other  sets. 

CHORUS  : 

84 


The  use  of  songs  like  these  in  Men's  Club  Meetings  has  been 
limited  entirely  to  social  occasions,  banquets,  etc.  The  regular  meet- 
ings of  the  clubs  are  given  over  entirely  to  the  presentation  and  dis- 
cussion of  public  questions.  In  the  programs  of  all  of  the  clubs  there 
has  been  constantly  evident  a  desire  for  the  presentation  of  both  sides 
of  any  mooted  question  and  in  the  success  thus  far  gained,  in  having 
a  fair  opportunity  for  both  sides  of  questions  to  be  presented,  is  indicat- 
ed the  exceptional  service  of  the  Civic  Club.  As  an  illustration  of  this 
practice  of  listening  to  both  sides,  the  treatment  of  the  Saloon  question 
may  be  taken.  At  one  meeting  Mr.  C.  N.  Howard,  the  noted  Prohibi- 
tionist, presented  the  arguments  against  the  saloon.  He  was  followed  at 
the  next  meeting  of  the  club  by  the  vice  president  of  the  Turn  Verein, 
who  presented  a  carefully  prepared  paper  upon  the  service  of  the  saloon 
as  a  social  institution  for  men  who  can  not  afford  private  clubs.  Men, 
who  sided  with  each  of  these  speakers,  attended  both  meetings  and  the 
effect  of  such  fair  presentation  was  pointed  out  by  the  Prohibition 
County  Chairman,  who  said  that,  while  he  believed  the  saloon  advo- 
cate was  wrong,  yet  this  pair  of  addresses  had  left  him  with  more 
respect  than  he  had  ever  had  before  for  the  men  who  differed  from 
him.  The  same  broadening  result  naturally  followed  in  the  discus- 
sions of  the  problems  of  the  relation  between  labor  and  capital 
For  instance,  the  conviction  of  Gompers,  Mitchell  and  Morrison  was 
presented  upon  one  night  by  a  prominent  manufacturer,  who  believed 
and  gave  his  reasons  for  believing  that  the  action  of  the  court  was 
just.  At  the  following  meeting  one  of  the  recognized  labor  leaders 
presented  the  arguments  against  this  position.  The  question  of  the 
value  of  newspapers  was  presented;  first,  by  the  editor  of  one  of  the 
papers  in  the  city,  who  spoke  on  their  high  service,  and  then  by  Sam- 
uel Hopkins  Adams,  who,  in  a  paper  on  "Under  Currents  of  Journal- 
ism" gave  his  views  of  the  evil  of  the  control  of  the  Press  by  un- 
scrupulous interests.  The  benefit  of  a  free  non-partisan  platform  in  de- 
veloping a  courteous  attitude,  between  those  who  differ  radically  upon 
public  questions,  was  well  illustrated  in  the  spirit  shown  in  the  pre- 
sentation of  the  two  sides  of  the  free  text  book  question  in  successive 
meetings  before  one  of  the  clubs.  It  was  after  one  of  these  pairs  of 
discussions  that  a  reporter  of  one  of  the  papers  said  to  the  director 
of  the  Center,  "I  have  never  expected  to  see  an  organization  developed 
in  which  such  questions  could  be  so  warmly  discussed  without  bit- 
terness." 

85 


While  there  has  never  yet,  in  all  of  these  discussions,  developed 
any  discourtesy,  their  earnestness  may  be  shown  by  a  re- 
markable incident.  At  one  of  the  meetings  a  seasoned  newspaper 
reporter  actually  so  far  forgot  his  mission  that  he  not  only  failed  to 
take  notes  of  the  discussion,  but  rose  and  took  part  in  it.  When  the 
city  editor  questioned  him  about  it  he  answered,  that  if  he,  (the  city 
editor)  had  been  there,  he  probably  would  have  done  the  same  thing. 

While  most  of  the  meetings  of  these  clubs  have  been  devoted  to 
larger  public  questions,  whenever  local  community  problems  have  come 
up  for  solution,  these  clubs  have  dealt  with  them.  They  have  uni- 
formly showed  a  conservative  spirit  in  their  actions  regarding  local  or 
municipal  improvements.  Only  in  a  few  cases  have  the  clubs  united 
in  definite  requests ;  in  seeking  the  securing  of  playgrounds  or  parks, 
in  seeking  to  secure  changes  in  the  street  railway  service  and  otherwise 
in  improving  the  conditions  of  their  neighborhoods. 

An  excellent  statement  of  the  service  of  the  Civic  Clubs  in  for- 
warding such  a  movement  as  that  for  playgrounds  is  made  by  Profes- 
sor George  M.  Forbes  in  Playground,  the  National  Playground  Maga- 
zine, the  January  issue. 

In  order  to  show  the  character  of  these  Men's  Civic  Club  Meet- 
ings, the  list  of  speakers  and  subjects  of  the  meetings  of  the  Men's 
Club  at  Xo.  14  Social  Center,  which  is  given  in  the  first  part  of  this  re- 
port is  here  continued  through  the  second  year. 

86 


Oct.      i,  1908 — -Congressman  J.  B.  Perkins.  .  ."Why  Vote  for  Taft?" 

Oct.     8,  1908 — County  Chairman  Wm.  Schalber 

, "Why  Vote  for  Chafin?" 

Oct.    15,  1908— Charles  Swaiin "Why  Vote  for  Debs?" 

Oct.    22,   1908 — -Attorney  George  P.  Decker.  ."Why  Vote  for  Bryan?" 

Oct.    29,  1908 — Prof.  Walter  Ranschenbusch 

"Non-Partisan    Political   Ideals" 

Nov.    5,  1908 — Commissioner  F.  G.  Newell. "Parks  and  Playgrounds" 

Nov.  12,  1908 — Livy  S.  Richard "Social  Value  of  Newspapers" 

Nov.  19,  1908— Prof.  John  R.  Slater "Social  Value  of  Theater" 

Dec.    3,   1908 — Mrs.  \V.  C.  Gannett "Woman  Suffrage'' 

Dec.   10,  1908 — Anniversary  Supper.  .Prof.  Zeublin,  Rev.  A.  S.  Crap- 
sey,  D.  D.,  Prof.  George  M.  Forbes  and  others. 

Dec.   17,  1908 — Rev.  C.  A.  Barbour,  D.  D 

"Value  of  Fraternal  Organizations" 

Dec.  31,  1908— H.  W.  Clark 

....  "The  Gompers,  Mitchell  and  Morrison  Case" 

Jan.      7,  1909 — Michael  O'Brien "Trade  Unions" 

Jan.    14,  1909— Com.  J.  P.  B.  Duffy "New  Station" 

Jan.    21,  1909— Edward  J.  Ward "Estimate  for  Play- 
grounds, Vacation  Schools  and  Social   Centers" 

Jan.    28,  1909 — Isaac  M.  Brickner "The  Peaceful  Revolution" 

Feb.     4,  1909 — Howard  T.  Mosher "Lincoln" 

Feb.   n,  1909 — Social  and  Patriotic  Evening  with  the  Women's  Club. 

Feb.    18,  1909 — Max  Lowenthal "The  Duty  of  a  Citizen  To-day" 

Feb.  25,  1909 — Eugene  C.  Denton "Direct  Primaries" 

Mar.    4,  1909 — Dr.  J.  F.  Forbes "The  Negro  Problem" 

Mar.  1 1,  1909 — Wm.  H.  Burr "Credit  Abuses" 

Mar.  18,  1909 — Jas.  L.  Brewer  and  Isaac  M.  Brickner,  debate  on  "Di- 
rect Primaries:" 

Mar.  25,  1909 — Alfred  P.  Fletcher "Industrial  Training" 

Apr.     i,  1909 — Rev.  E.  A.  Rumball 

.."Social  Problems  of  Newfoundland"  illustrated 
Apr.  15,  1909 — Plans  for  next  year. 

These  programs  have  been  furnished  entirely  without  expense  to 
the  city  in  every  case.  As  has  been  stated  above,  even  the  large  ex- 
pense of  entertaining  the  Buffalo  delegation  at  the  West  High  Social 
Center,  was  borne  entirely  by  one  of  the  clubs. 

87 


There  have  been  indications  of  the  development  of  recreational 
activities  in  connection  with  the  clubs.  For  instance,  one  of  them 
lias  taken  steps  this  year  toward  securing  bowling  alleys  and  it  is  likely 
that  this  club  will  carry  the  project  through  because  the  building  in 
which  it  meets  will  not  offer  the  difficulties  which  stood  in  the  way 
of  the  club  at  Xo.  14  last  year.  But  whatever  recreational,  or  other, 
features  may  be  added  to  the  Civic  Club  activities,  it  is  probable  that 
its  prime  service  will  remain  the  development  of  intelligent  public 
spirit  by  the  open  presentation  and  free  discussion  of  public  questions. 

E.  Italian  Men's  Clubs. 


The   First   Italian   Men's   Civic   Club  To   Be  Established  in   Rochester. 

Special  reference  should  be  made  to  the  service  of  the  two  Italian 
Men's  Civic  Gubs  which  have  been  organized  this  year.  These 
have  the  same  object  as  the  other  Men's  Civic  Clubs  and  in  addition 
to  that  object  the  members  aim  especially  to  serve  their  recently  arrived 
compatriots.  Any  one,  who  has  studied  at  all  the  problem  of  immi- 
gration, realizes  the  great  advantage  which  can  be  gained  from  such 
an  organization.  The  new  comer  to  this  country  is  liable  to  all  sorts 
of  tricks  by  which  advantage  is  taken  of  his  ignorance  of  the  laws  and 
usages  of  his  new  home  and  of  his  rights  as  a  citizen.  Moreover,  he 
needs  sympathetic  guidance  in  order  to  a  quick  adjustment  to  his  new 

88 


surroundings.  It  is  for  this  double  service  of  protecting  the  Italian 
immigrants  from  the  preying  upon  their  ignorance,  and  to  help  them 
in  understanding  their  new  citizenship  that  the  two  clubs,  the  one  at 
Xo.  14  Social  Center  and  the  other  at  Xo.  5  School  Building,  were 
formed.  One  of  these  clubs  has  had  the  benefit  of  the  direction  of  an 
Italian,  a  court  interpreter  and  a  teacher  in  one  of  the  High  Schools. 
The  other  has  been  in  charge  of  an  Italian  speaking  American  citizen. 
Both  of  these  men  have  given  their  service  without  charge  and  each 
of  them  has  shown  a  remarkable  devotion  to  the  welfare  of  the  immi- 
grant. That  these  clubs  have  done  the  service  for  which  they  were 
organized  is  shown  by  the  words  of  one  of  the  members  of  the  club 
at  Xo.  14  who,  at  the  close  of  the  concert  which  that  club  gave  on  Dec- 
ember 2oth  said,  ''Here,  for  the  first  time,  I  find  realized  the  dream 
of  what  America  would  be,  which  I  dreamed  when  I  was  in  Italy." 


Imperare  e   Insegnare. 

The  spirit  of  these  clubs,  which  is  appreciated  in  such  words  as 
the  above,  is  expressed  in  the  accompanying  cartoon,  drawn  by  one  of 
the  members  of  the  "Spontaneous  Art  Club."  At  one  end  the  Italian 
Coat  of  Arms,  at  the  other  the  United  States  shield,  each  of  them  merg- 
ing into  the  large  brotherhood  of  the  Social  Center,  signifying  the  idea 
of  "Social  Exchange."  The  common  attitude  toward  the  foreigner 
might  be  expressed  by  merging  the  Italian  Coat  of  Arms  into  the 
United  States  shield.  This  would  signify  that  nothing  is  made  of  the 
Italian's  contribution  to  the  common  store ;  he  is  regarded  as  simply  a 
learner  coming  to  get  something  from  the  American.  In  the  Social 
Center,  with  this  idea  of  exchange,  it  is  recognized  that  the  Italian  has 
something  to  get  but  he  also  has  something  to  give ;  he  has  much  to 
learn,  but  he  also  has  much  to  teach.  He  is  there  not  simply  as  a 
recipient  of  the  service  or  advice  of  the  American,  who  says,  "You 
must  become  like  me,"  rather  he  is  there  met  by  the  American  who 
says,  "Let  us  get  together,  you  with  your  ideas  and  hopes  and  traditions 
and  we  with  ours,  and  so  shall  we  both  develop  a  larger  understanding, 
so  shall  we  both  be  benefited."  The  response  of  the  Italians  to  this 
manner  of  meeting  them  as  men  and  brothers,  and  its  effect,  is  incli- 

89 


cated  in  the  words  of  one  of  them  who,  speaking  at  the  meeting  of  the 
"People's  Sunday  Evening"  in  the  National  Theater,  on  February  /th, 
said,  that  never  before  had  he  known  of  any  institution  which  so 
strongly  tended  to  develop  the  self  respect  and  the  manhood  of  the  Ita- 
lian. "When  you  meet  the  Italian  half  way,"  said  he,  "as  you  do  in 
the  Social  Center,  recognizing  that  he,  as  an  Italian,  has  something  to 
bring,  something  to  contribute  to  the  common  store,  then  you  teach 
him  to  love  and  honor  the  American  Flag  and  all  that  it  stands  for  to 
you,  by  showing  some  respect  for  his  Flag,  and  all  that  that  stands  for 
to  him,  then  you  make  him  feel  friendly,  you  make  him  feel  that  he  is 
a  man.  you  make  him  feel  that  he  must  be  worthy  of  his  larger  citizen- 
ship." 

E.  League  of  Civic  Clubs. 

The  organization  of  the  League  of  Civic  Clubs  has  already  been 
spoken  of.  and  the  preamble  to  its  constitution,  stating  the  reasons  for 
its  formation  and  its  purpose,  has  been  given.  This  body,  made  up  of 
delegates  from  each  of  the  seventeen  adult  Civic  Clubs  with  associate 
delegates  from  each  of  the  younger  clubs,  has  held  meetings  monthly, 
or  oftener,  since  its  formation.  The  service  of  such  an  organization 
as  this  whose  spirit  is  expressed  in  its  motto,  "For  the  City  as  a 
Whole,"  and  in  which  representatives  of  groups  of  people  from  every 
section  of  the  city  unite  in  the  common  interest,  is  obvious.  Already, 
on  two  propositions  for  the  common  \velfare,  the  League  has  begun 
action.  One  of  the  Civic  Clubs  in  the  League  had  taken  up  the 
problem  of  the  unsatisfactory  division  of  the  land  in  its  community  by 
a  real  estate  company.  After  careful  investigation  this  club  voted 
to  send  a  recommendation  to  the  League  of  Civic  Clubs  that  that  body 
take  action  looking  toward  the  city's  requiring  any  real  estate  corpora- 
tion to  submit  complete  plans  and  specifications  of  the  proposed  divi- 
sion of  any  new  section  of  the  city  land,  in  order  that  such  division 
might  conform  to  a  satisfactory  plan  for  the  city  as  a  whole.  This 
recommendation,  presented  before  the  League,  was  referred  to  the 
Legislative  and  Improvement  Committee  of  the  League.  If  this  Com- 
mittee reports  favorably  upon  the  proposition  it  wall  then  be  submitted 
with  the  endorsement  of  the  Committee  to  each  of  the  Clubs  in  the 
League.  The  discussion  upon  the  proposition  will  in  this  way  become 
general  throughout  the  city,  and  the  desire  of  the  people  will  be 
learned.  The  other  single  proposition  upon  which  the  Clubs  have 

90 


united  through  the  League,  is  in  the  action  for  the  establishment  of 
public  comfort  stations.  For  this  project  an  appropriation  has  been 
secured. 

However,  the  prime  purpose  of  the  League  is  not  the  accomplish- 
ment of  specific  objects  for  the  public  welfare,  but  is  simply  to  help 
the  clubs  in  their  work  of  developing  intelligent  public  spirit  by 
the  dissemination  of  intelligence  upon  public  questions. 

The  fundamental  spirit  of  the  Social  Center  and  Civic  Club  move- 
ment, as  has  been  said,  was  not  the  spirit  of  revolt  against  existing 
conditions  nor  of  seeking  something,  but  was  the  friendly  get-together 
spirit  of  the  little  old  red  school  house.  And  in  the  organization  of  the 
League  of  Civic  Clubs  that  spirit  has  not  been  lost.  The  first  united 
action  of  the  League  was  not  a  complaint  about  something  nor  a  peti- 
tion for  something,  but  a  cordial  invitation  to  the  Governor  of  the 
State  to  come  and  dine  with  the  members  of  the  clubs. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Civic  Club  season  the  Supervisor  of  Social 
Centers  had  carried  an  invitation  to  the  Governor  with  the  endorsement 
of  the  Mayor,  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Education  and  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  from  the  Civic  Clubs  which  were 
then  organized,  asking  him  to  address  the  opening  meeting  of  the 
season.  The  Governor  expressed  his  interest  in  the  movement  but 
said  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to  accept  the  invitation  at  that 
time. 

Upon  the  formation  of  the  League  of  Civic  Clubs,  the  following 
invitation  was  drawn  up : 

AN  INVITATION  TO  THE  GOVERNOR  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK  TO  BE 
PRESENT  AND  TO  SPEAK  AT  THE  CLOSING  BANQUET  OF  THE  LEAGUE 
OF  Civic  CLUBS  OF  THE  CITY  OF  ROCHESTER,  TO  BE  HELD  IN  CONVEN- 
TION HALL  ON  THE  EVENING  OF  FRIDAY,,  APRIL  THE  SIXTEENTH, 
NINETEEN  HUNDRED  NINE. 

Honorable  Charles  Evans  Hughes,  Albany,  New  York. 
Dear  Sir : 

We,  the  undersigned,  members  of  the Club 

of  the  Social  Center,  meeting  in  Public  School  Building  No 

of  the  city  of  Rochester,  desiring  to  mark  the  close  of  the  second  sea- 
son of  the  Rochester  Civic  Club  movement  with  a  celebration  worthy 
of  its  unprecedented  growth  and  the  success  which  it  has  thus  far  at- 
tained, have  secured  the  use  of  Convention  Hall  for  a  banquet  on  the 

91 


evening-  of  April  the  sixteenth,  have  begun  arrangements  for  a  great 
gathering  and  now  most  cordially  and  earnestly  invite  you  to  be  present 
and  to  speak  on  this  occasion. 

Letters  sent  you  by  the  Mayor 
of  the  City,  the  President  of  the 
Board  of  Education  and  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
endorsing  the  invitation  which  sev- 
eral Civic  Clubs  extended  to  you 
last  fall,  to  be  present  at  the  open- 
ing meeting  of  this  season,  carried 
the  information  that  these  clubs  are 
non-partisan  organizations,  meeting 
in  the  public  school  buildings  in  the 
interest  of  the  dissemination  of 
knowledge  upon  public  questions 
and  the  development  of  unbiased, 
intelligent  public  spirit. 


*  f-* 
-  »r  *> 

T'  jt/t»r        »«*fc~«k.^ 

.\'-*X'lf~~.f<~'         <7  •*--—*-**-- 

\:££u;  4^^^^ 


The  majority  of  these  Civic 
Clubs  are  made  up  entirely  of  vot- 
ers, of  whom  there  are  about  a 
thousand  enrolled  as  members,  dis- 
tributed over  every  part  of  the  city, 
representing-  every  phase  of  opinion 
and  every  class  in  society,  and 
bound  together  simply  by  our  com- 
mon interest  in  the  public  welfare 
and  the  desire  to  become  acquainted 
with  our  fellows  in  the  first  atmos- 
phere of  the  Public  School  Social 
Center. 

Earnestly  we  hope  that  you 
will  accept  this  imitation  and  our 
hope  is  straightened  by  the  knowl- 
edge of  your  interest  in  every  de- 
velopment of  the  spirit  of  intelligent  self-government  on  the  part  of 
citizens,  and  our  feeling  that  to  a  remarkable  degree  w^e  are  attaining 
to  the  ideal  expressed  in  your  words  of  January  3ist,  1908,  when  you 

92 


~*^ 


Facsimile    of    the    Invitation    That    Caused 
the  Governor  to  Take  Back  His  Word. 


said — "There  is  no  reason  for  any  of  us  to  fear  any  of  the  problems 
which  confront  us  in  America  to-day.  Throughout  all  the  States  are 
communities  full  of  sentiment  for.  Social  Improvement ;  bodies  study- 
ing public  questions  ready  to  devote  their  energies  to  the  common 
good." 

We  appreciate  the  fact  that  there  are  very  many  demands  upon 
your  time,  but  we  make  our  appeal  upon  the  exceptional  character  of 
this  occasion  for  there  is  not  yet  another  city  in  America,  so  far  as  we 
know,  which  can  offer  you  an  invitation  to  address  so  representative, 
absolutely  democratic  and  untrammeled  an  organisation  as  the  League 
of  Civic  Clubs  of  the  city  of  Rochester. 

Yours  for  Civic  Intelligence  and  Righteousness, 

This  invitation,  after  being  adopted  by  the  assembled  delegates  of 
the  League  of  Civic  Clubs,  was  presented  to  each  of  the  clubs  in  the 
League  and  the  signatures  of  1,270  members  of  the  various  clubs  were 
attached.  The  printed  invitation  was  then  bound  together  into  a  book, 
which,  on  Marth  i8th,  was  carried  to  Albany  by  a  committee  represent- 
ing the  League,  and  there  presented  to  Governor  Hughes. 

His  written  response  to  the  invitation  contained  the  following 
statement : 

"Nothing  has  been  more  gratifying  than  the  evidence  afforded  by 
this  invitation,  signed  by  so  many  of  the  citizens  of  Rochester,  of  the 
deep  and  wholesome  interest  that  is  taken  in  all  questions  relating  to 
civic  and  social  betterment.  I  had  not  thought  it  possible  to  visit 
Rochester  again  this  spring,  but  I  cannot  bring  myself  to  refuse  an  invi- 
tation of  such  an  unusual  character. 

With  best  regards,  I  am, 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

"(Signed)  "CHARLES  E.  HUGHES," 

As  is  stated  in  the  invitation,  the  plan  had  been  to  hold  a  great 
banquet  with  the  Governor  as  guest  in  Convention  Hall,  on  the  i6th 
of  April.  On  account  of  the  fact  that  the  Governor  desired  that  the 
date  be  changed  from  the  i6th  to  the  8th  of  April,  which  date  is  in  the 
midst  of  the  week  when  religious  scruples  forbid  some  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Civic  Club's  eating  at  a  general  banquet,  it  was  decided  to 
give  up  the  original  plan  and,  instead,  to  hold  a  meeting  in  Convention 
Hall  preceded  by  an  informal  dinner  with  the  Governor  at  No.  14 
Social  Center. 

93 


The  plans  for  the  day  included  a  visit  to  Xo.  9  Social  Center  where 
the  Governor  would  have  an  opportunity  to  see  some  of  the  activities 
carried  on  there :  then  to  \Yest  High  where  an  informal  reception  would 
be  tendered  him  :  then  to  Xo.  14  Social  Center  where  dinner  would  be 
served ;  then  to  Convention  Hall  for  the  general  meeting.  The  plan 
required  the  Governor's  arrival  in  Rochester  at  3:51  o'clock.  It  was 
submitted  to  the  Governor  and  received  his  immediate  approval. 

On  Thursday,  the  8th  of  April,  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
League,  headed  by  the  President,  Judge  John  B.  M.  Stephens,  and  ac- 
companied by  the  Mayor,  met  the  Governor  and  his  aide  at  the  Station. 
Four  automobiles  had  been  secured  and  with  these  the  party  proceeded 
quickly  to  Xo.  9  Social  Center. 

Of  course,  the  Social  Center  is  not  usually  open  in  the  afternoon, 
except  on  Sunday,  so  that  there  was  no  opportunity  for  the  Governor  to 
see  the  plant  in  full  operation.  However,  in  order  to  give  some  idea  of 
the  work  carried  on,  a  group  of  young  men  and  another  of  young 
women  were  gathered  for  gymnasium  work,  and  the  men  and  women 
were  assembled  in  their  club  meeting  room.  The  Governor  was  taken 
first  to  the  gymnasium  and  there  watched  with  interest  the  drills  con- 
ducted, first  by  the  young  men  and  then  by  the  women.  His  remark,  as 
he  watched  them,  showed  the  approval  which  he  was  to  express  later 
in  Convention  Hall.  "This  is  helping  toward  good  citizenship,"  he  said. 


The    Governor    Heartily   Approved   of   This. 
94 


While  the  Governor  was  in  the  gymnasium  the  men  and  women, 
assembled  in  their  club  meeting  room,  had  been  singing,  under  the  lead- 
ership of  the  director.  They  did  not  stop  immediately  upon  the  en- 
trance of  the  Governor  and  he  apparently  enjoyed  the  music.  After 
the  officers  of  the  club  had  been  presented,  the  Governor  made  a  brief 
address  in  which  he  congratulated  the  people  on  the  organization  of 
"such  a  get-together  club."  "What  the  city  needs,"  said  he,  "is  just 
this  sort  of  getting  together.  I  believe  in  the  helpful  association  of  all 
of  the  people  of  the  community  and  this  association  can  be  accom- 
plished only  through  such  gatherings  as  this,  in  such  places  as  this." 

As  the  party  proceeded  to  West  High  Social  Center  the  Governor 
asked  many  questions  regarding  the  history  of  the  movement  and  the 
development  of  its  various  phases,  questions  which  showed  that  he  had 
investigated  carefully  the  general  spirit  and  purpose  of  the  Social  Cen- 
ter before  accepting  the  invitation. 

At  West  High  Center  the  Women's  Civic  Club  and  the  faculty 
of  the  High  School  had  decorated  the  library  with  ferns  and  palms. 
There,  after  the  arrival  of  the  Governor  and  his  party  they  served  light 
refreshments.  After  twenty  minutes  of  informal  conversation  in  which 
the  Governor  mingled  with  the  people  most  freely,  the  women  escorted 
the  party  about  the  building.  The  assembly  hall,  the  lunch  room,  the 
gymnasium,  the  baths  and  then  the  laboratories,  chemical,  biological  and 
physical,  were  visited. 

As  the  party  were  proceeding  through  the  various  parts  of  the 
building  they  heard  the  strains  of  music  from  the  West  High  Band 
which  had  gathered  in  the  Hall,  and  which  was  greatly  enjoyed  by 
Governor  Hughes. 

Several  times  during  the  tour  through  the  building  the  Governor 
expressed  his  interest,  especially  as  the  West  High  Athletic  Field  was 
pointed  out  and  the  method  by  which  it  was  procured  was  explained, 
"That's  fine  spirit"  he  remarked.  After  leaving  West  High  the  Gov- 
ernor and  party  were  carried  through  Genesee  Valley  Park.  The 
wind  was  brisk,  the  air  bracing  and  the  Governor,  as  he  said  later,  thor- 
oughly enjoyed  the  trip. 

At  6:15  o'clock  Governor  Hughes  arrived  at  No.  14  Social  Center. 
One  hundred  thirty  guests  were  gathered  there,  most  of  them  officers 
of  the  Civic  Clubs  in  the  League  and  all  of  them  connected  with  the 
Social  Center  movement.  The  room  was  handsomely  decorated  in 

95 


green  and  yellow  with  an  abundance  of  daffodils  on  the  tables.  The 
spirit  of  old  fashioned  hospitality  was  kept  by  the  Women's  Civic 
Club,  instead  of  hired  waiters,  acting  as  hostesses,  and  serving.  The 
menu  cards  had,  embossed  on  the  front,  a  picture  of  the  Governor 
and  on  the  back  the  words  which  were  quoted  from  his  speech  of 
January  3 1st,  1908,  in  the  invitation  to  him. 

During  the  dinner  the  Orchestra  played,  and  between  courses 
Social  Center  songs  were  sung,  the  Governor  joining  in  them  heartily. 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  dinner  the  toastmaster,  Judge  Stephens,  in- 
troduced Prof.  Louis  J.  Yannuccini,  the  director  of  the  Italian  Men's 
Civic  Club  at  Xo.  14,  who  extended  greetings  to  the  Governor  on 
behalf  of  the  Italian  Colony  of  Rochester.  Rev.  C.  A.  Barbour,  D. 
D..  who  had  acted  as  the  chairman  of  the  organization  meeting  of  the 
League  of  Civic  Clubs,  was  then  called  upon  and  gave  a  stirring  ad- 
dress of  welcome  in  which  he  spoke  of  the  non-partisan  character  of 
the  Civic  Club  movement  and  of  the  Social  Center  as  a  means  of  free 
popular  expression.  "You  are  here,"  said  he,  "not  as  a  guest  of  a 
party  or  a  clique,  you  are  here,  the  guest  of  the  people,  meeting  in 
their  own  building,  and  as  such,  we  welcome  you."  The  Governor 
then  rose  to  respond,  "I  cannot  express  to  you,"  said  he,  "how  deeply 
I  appreciate  the  fact  that  you  have  permitted  me  to  come  to  you  to- 
night, and  the  words  of  generous  welcome  that  have  been  spoken  here. 
When  Judge  Stephens  on  February  I2th,  invited  me  to  come  to  Roch- 
ester I  told  him  that  it  would  be  absolutely  impossible ;  that  Rochester 
was,  of  course,  the  most  important  city  in  the  State,  but  that  that  fact 
was  not  yet  so  generally  recognized  by  the  other  communities  of  the 
State :  that  I  could  not  consistently  come  here  twice  in  so  short  a  time. 
The  Judge  asked  if  you  might  come  to  see  me  and  I  told  him  you  might, 
although  I  thought  at  the  time  that  it  would  be  useless,  and  I  think  that 
I  can  say  that  it  is  the  first  time  that  I  have  ever  taken  back  what  I 
have  said  since  I  became  Governor. 

"When  the  delegation  visited  me  with  the  invitation,  signed  by 
some  twelve  hundred  seventy  people  interested  in  this  work,  I  ex- 
pressed a  thrill  which  it  is  the  highest  happiness  of  a  man  to  enjoy, 
that  twelve  hundred  seventy  people  in  Rochester,  unselfishly  interested 
in  such  great  work,  should  take  such  trouble  to  induce  my  coming 
here  to  speak  to  them  ;  and  that  presented  it  in  a  light  which  made  re- 
fusal absolutely  impossible. 

96 


"I  regret  very  much  that  I  could  not  come  at  the  time  which  was 
suggested  to  me  by  your  committee,  but  I  am  very  glad  of  the  chance 
to  meet  you  less  formally  here,  to  see  you  more  closely  and  to  be  able 
to  talk  with  you. 

''Let  me  express  my  thanks  for  the  greeting  you  have  given  and 
for  the  uplift  and  the  inspiration  that  you  are  giving.  Later  in  the 
evening  I  shall  go  more  fully  into  my  appreciation  of  the  great  work 
that  you  are  doing.  I  will  say  now,  ho\vever,  from  what  I  have  learned 
of  it,  that  I  am  more  interested  in  what  you  are  doing  and  what  it 
stands  for,  than  in  anything  else  in  the  world. 

"We,  at  Albany,  at  times  get  a  false  perspective.  It  is  in  meet- 
ings like  these  that  we  have  the  opportunity  to  get  a  true  one,  and  I 
would  not  have  missed  seeing  what  I  have  to-day  and  joining  with  you 
to-night,  for  many  of  the  ostentatious  occasions  which  it  is  my  lot,  as 
Governor,  to  take  part  in. 

"You  are  buttressing  the  foundations  of  democracy,  you  are  mak- 
ing it  more  sure  that  our  children  will  enjoy,  even  more  richly,  that 
which  we  have  cherished  in  our  lives.  Therefore,  I  honor  you,  I 
honor  your  work,  I  have  the  highest  appreciation  for  what  you  do,  and 
I  thank  you  for  allowing  me  to  see  it  and  to  know  more  of  it." 

When  the  Governor  finished  speaking,  in  the  midst  of  the  ap- 
plause, the  orchestra  struck  up  the  National  Anthem  and  the  whole 
body  stood  and  sang  together.  There  were  a  few  minutes  for  greet- 
ings, and  congratulations  to  the  executive  committee  upon  the  success- 
ful carrying  out  of  the  arrangements  thus  far  and  to  the  Women's 
Civic  Club  on  the  beauty  of  the  decorations  and  the  excellence  of  their 
service.  Then  the  whole  party  started  for  the  hall. 

Convention  Hall  had  been  decorated  for  the  meeting.  The  body 
of  the  hall  was  filled  with  members  of  the  various  Civic  Clubs  in  the 
League.  The  ushering  was  very  satisfactorily  done  by  committees  ap- 
pointed from  each  of  the  clubs.  From  7 130  to  8  :oo  o'clock  the  West 
High  Social  Center  Orchestra  furnished  music,  which  was  greatly 
appreciated.  At  8:05  o'clock  the  party,  which  had  dined  with  the 
Governor,  took  seats  on  the  stage.  The  newspapers  remarked  upon 
the  unusually  representative  character  of  this  gathering  and  one,  the 
New  York  Post,  spoke  of  it  as  "'unique." 

All  parties,  every  group,  interest  and  class  in  the  city,  were  there 
represented.  The  character  of  the  Social  Center  and  Civic  Club,  as 

97 


an  institution  in  which  people  meet  without  respect  to  external  dif- 
ferences, on  a  common  ground  of  human  interest,  was  there  well  illus- 
trated. 

At  8:10  o'clock  the  Governor  entered.  He  was  received  with 
hearty  and  prolonged  applause.  In  introducing  the  Governor  the 
President  of  the  League  of  Civic  Clubs  gave  a  brief  statement  of  the 
history  and  objects  of  the  League,  expressing  the  League's  thanks  to 
those  who  had  helped  in  making  the  movement  successful  and  then 
introduced  the  Governor  as  a  man  who  had  splendidly  elevated  the 
high  office  which  he  held,  a  man  whom  the  people  of  Rochester  delight 
to  honor. 

When  the  Governor  rose  to  speak  the  audience  greeted  him  again 
with  applause  and  cheers.  His  address  was  to  deal  with  the  question 
of  ''Direct  Primaries"  but  before  opening  the  discussion  upon  that  sub- 
ject he  spoke  as  follows  of  the  Rochester  Social  Center  and  Civic  Club 
movement. 

"Mr.  Mayor,  Mr.  Chairman,  members  of  the  League  of  Civic 
Clubs,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen :  I  thought  that  I  held  Rochetser  in  just 
regard.  I  had  an  appreciation  of  its  enterprise,  its  commercial  expan- 
sion, and  of  the  thrift  and  intelligence  of  its  citizens,  but  there  are  re- 
sources of  communities  which  are  not  reflected  in  statistics  of  com- 
merce or  industry,  which  cannot  be  expressed  in  amounts  of  money 
representing  invested  or  stored  wealth.  I  have  had  the  great  privilege 
of  becoming  acquainted,  to-day,  with  the  real  resources  of  Rochester's 
strength,  and  I  would  not  have  missed  that  opportunity.  It  is  not  in 
the  growth  of  wealth  or  of  commerce,  or  in  the  expansion  of  industry, 
that  we  find  the  true  index  of  civilization.  The  question  is  whether, 
with  increasing  opportunity,  there  still  remains  the  generous  senti- 
ment; whether  with  growing  wealth  and  new  establishments  of  indus- 
try and  commerce  there  still  remain  the  instincts  of  human  brother- 
hood. The  question  really  is,  while  we  are  conserving  individual  op- 
portunities are  we  growing  more  solicitous  of  the  common  good? 

"You  in  Rochester  are  meeting  one  of  the  great  tests  of  our  demo- 
cratic life ;  you  are  proving  that  the  virtues  of  humanity  far  exceed  in 
force  the  vices  of  humanity ;  you  are  showing  that  it  is  health  that  is 
really  contagious,  and  that  in  a  prosperous  community  the  most  intelli- 
gent of  the  citizens  of  the  community  turn  their  attention  to  the 
thought  of  mutual  improvement  and  of  enlarging  the  area  of  the  real 

99 


opportunities  of  life,  not  in  mere  money  getting  but  in  enriching  the 
character,  giving  chance  for  expression  of  individuality,  bringing  home 
the  information  and  the  stores  of  knowledge  that  are  otherwise  inac- 
cessible to  many  who  are  burdened  with  the  toils  of  the  day.  It  is 
in  the  Social  Centers  of  Rochester  that  I  should  look  for  an  answer  to 
the  question,  whether  in  a  great  democratic  community  you  were  realiz- 
ing the  purposes  of  society. 

"I  have  enjoyed  seeing  the  splendid  provision  that  is  made  through 
this  movement  for  the  promotion  of  physical  well-being.  How  little 
\ve  realize  that  character  must  have  its  basis  in  self-respect, — and  it 
takes  a  good  deal  of  a  saint  to  have  self-respect  when  one  is  not  well 
and  vigorous.  I  rejoice  that  boys  and  girls,  and  men  and  women,  are 
having  a  chance  to  lead  a  normal  life,  and  to  have  the  physical  basis 
upon  which  everything  else  in  life  so  largely  depends. 

''And  then  you  have  gone  beyond  that,  to  give  opportunity  for  in- 
tellectual development.  Wherever  we  may  be  born,  in  stately  man- 
sion, or  in  flat,  or  tenement,  or  under  the  humblest  conditions,  we  are 
pretty  much  alike,  and  it  would  be  a  rash  man  who  would  try  to  measure 
brains  by  the  cost  of  the  nursery.  Go  anywhere  you  will,  there  is  a 
human  soul  demanding  a  fair  chance,  having  the  right  to  know  what 
has  happened  in  the  world,  having  the  right  to  be  enriched  with  the 
stories  and  poetry  of  life,  having  the  right  to  be  inspired  by  the  deeds 
of  men  of  force  who  have  lived  amid  struggles  in  the  past,  having  the 
right  to  be  shown  the  way  upward  to  that  wholesome  life  which  is 
absolutely  independent  of  circumstances  and  which  is  strong  and  suc- 
cessful because  it  is  the  life  of  a  man  or  a  woman  doing  a  man's  part 
and  a  woman's  part  in  a  world  which  is  fairly  understood. 

"I  congratulate  you  upon  the  use  that  is  made  of  the  fine  public 
buildings  that  have  been  erected  for  educational  purposes.  I  do  not 
think  that  I  have  seen  any  buildings — of  course,  I  except  the  Capitol  at 
Albany — I  do  not  think  I  have  seen  any  public  buildings  so  overworked, 
or  so  fully  worked,  yielding  such  rich  dividends  upon  the  public  invest- 
ment through  the  promotion  of  the  public  good,  as  those  school  build- 
ings that  I  visited  to-day.  We  used  to  pass  these  stately  edifices  of 
education,  after  school  hours,  and  find  them  closed  and  dark,  and  inter- 
esting only  because  of  the  architectural  beauty  or  curiosity  of  their 
facade.  Now  I  don't  know  when  they  get  time  to  clean  the  public 
school  buildings  of  Rochester.  It  seems  to  me  that  they  are  being  used 

100 


all  the  while,  and  it  is  a  school  extension  proposition,  so  that  what  the 
community  has  paid  for  is  now  enriching  the  community  in  larger  ways 
than  were  at  first  thought  possible,  although  in  ways,  under  wise  guid- 
ance, which  I  understand  are  entirely  compatible  with  the  uses  for 
which  they  were  primarily  intended. 

"But  you  have  not  stopped  there  and  I  am  glad  of  that.  You  are 
organized  in  Civic  Clubs,  and  you  have  federated  these  clubs,  and  you 
are  discussing  public  questions.  We  cannot  have  too  much  of  that.  I 
believe,  absolutely,  in  the  success  of  the  merits  of  a  proposition.  The 
one  thing  we  cannot  afford  to  do  without  in  this  country  is  public  dis- 
cussion. There  may  be  those  who  shrink  from  a  free  examination  of 
public  questions.  You  cannot  hold  the  American  public  in  leash,  you 
cannot  muzzle  American  men  and  women.  The  only  question  is, 
whether  you  will  have  it  out  in  a  time  of  turmoil  and  excitement  and 
agitation,  when  the  coolest  minds  become  somewhat  heated,  and  when 
there  is  the  strife  of  a  controversy  and  the  anxiety  to  win,  or  whether 
you  will  have  calm  discussion,  with  the  sole  desire  to  get  at  the  truth, 
in  time  of  quiet  and  when  reason  and  not  passion  control  the  dispute. 
It  is  of  the  first  importance,  in  every  American  community,  that  there 
should  be  the  largest  possible  opportunity  for  the  rational  discussion 
of  all  questions  that  concern  the  community.  Therefore  it  is  that  you 
have  done  a  great  service  to  Rochester  in  organizing  these  forums  of 
public  opinion. 

"I  do  not  overlook  the  advantage  of  the  press  and  its  great  power 
in  forming  public  opinion.  We  would  not  be  able  to  run  the  govern- 
ment or  to  exist  as  a  society  without  the  play  of  these  forces  so  largely 
represented  by  our  newspapers,  but  there  is  such  a  conflict  of  voices 
and  so  many  interests  involved,  and  so  many  points  of  view,  and  so 
many  things  to  be  read  between  the  lines,  that  the  average  man  cannot 
always  determine  what  he  shall  think  by  what  he  may  read.  The  in- 
fluence plays  upon  him,  and  whether  he  recognizes  it  or  not,  his  opin- 
ions are  largely  shaped  by  what  he  reads,  but  it  is  such  a  delight  to  sit 
down  with  a  few  for  a  quiet  and  calm  exchange  of  opinions,  to  get  at 
the  respective  points  of  view  and  see,  once  in  a  while,  where  the  truth 
really  lies.  And  so  you  are  at  work  in  your  clubs,  discussing,  getting  at 
the  facts  to  the  best  of  your  ability,  and  applying  to  those  facts  the  prin- 
ciples in  which  you  believe,  under  the  corrective  influence  of  the  argu- 
ments of  others  who  are  seeking  to  apply  different  principles.  We 

101 


have  nothing  to  fear  in  this  country  if  we  can  only  have  enough  of 
that  sort  of  thing.    The  danger  is  in  having  too  little  of  it." 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  address  the  Governor  remained  upon  the 
platform  and  there  shook  hands  with  a  large  part  of  the  audience, 
especially  with  the  members  of  the  Civic  Clubs.  At  the  conclusion 
of  this  reception,  just  before  leaving  the  hall,  the  Governor  said  to 
the  supervisor  of  Social  Centers :  "To-night,  at  the  dinner,  I  made 
a  statement  which  might  be  taken  by  the  average  person  as  extrava- 
gant. My  statement  that  T  am  more  interested  in  what  you  people  are 
doing  in  the  Social  Centers  and  Civic  Clubs,  and  what  it  stands  for, 
than  in  anything  else  in  the  world.'  I  am  not  given  to  making  extra- 
vagant statements  and  I  would  have  it  understood  that  that  state- 
ment was  not  extravagant,  but  was  the  fact.  You  are  dealing  in 
fundamentals,  you  are  doing  the  most  important  work." 

That  the  Governor  was  sincere  in  his  expression  of  interest  in 
the  Social  Center  and  Civic  Club  development  and  in  his  appreciation 
of  his  reception  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  ordered  the  check, 
sent  by  the  League  of  Civic  Clubs  returned,  saying  that  the  experi- 
ence was  an  inspiration  and  that  he  wished  personally  to  make  the  con- 
tribution of  his  expenses  to  the  work  of  the  League. 

It  is  hoped  that  at  the  end  of  next  year  plans  for  a  general  ban- 
quet of  the  members  of  the  Civic  Clubs  may  be  held  in  Convention 
Hall,  or  in  some  suitable  place,  and  several  of  the  clubs  have  already 
expressed  their  hope  that  Governor  Hughes  may  be  a  guest  on  that 
occasion. 

The  outlook  for  the  work  of  the  League  during  the  coming  year 
is  indicated  by  the  report  of  the  chairman  of  the  Program  Committee 
given  at  a  recent  meeting.  This  report,  to  quote  from  the  min- 
utes of  the  meeting,  was:  "That  a  number  of  letters  had  been  sent 
out  asking  persons  in  the  city  for  permission  to  use  their  names 
on  the  list  of  speakers  available  for  the  meetings  of  the  clubs,  and  that 
with  very  few  exceptions,  the  permission  had  been  heartily  granted." 
He  said  that  the  response  was  encouraging  as  it  indicated  a  good  out- 
look for  the  work  of  the  League  next  year.  The  League  is  less  than 
two  months  old,  but  it  has  proved,  on  a  city-wide  scale,  what,  during 
two  years  has  been  proved  by  the  organization  of  the  first  Civic  Club, 
that  only  benefit  is  to  be  gained  from  free,  widely  representative  or- 
ganization in  the  common  interest. 

102 


Officers  of  the  Women's  Civic  Club  at  No.   14  Social  Center. 
"There's  just  one  place  where  we  all  know  that  we  are  one  in  heart." 


G.  Special  Clubs. 

The  Civic  Clubs  of  men  and  women,  and  the  young  men's  and 
young  women's  clubs  are  the  large  governing  bodies  in  which  the  vari- 
ous persons  engaged  in  Social  Center  activities,  are  organized.  In 
addition  to  these  large  general  club  organizations  there  has  been  the 
opportunity  for  the  formation  of  groups  into  clubs  for  special  work. 
The  most  notable  of  these  is  the  ''Spontaneous  Art  Club"  whose  organi- 

103 


zation  at  the  beginning  of  this  year  has  been  mentioned.  This  group 
has  held  a  meeting  each  week  throughout  the  year  at  No.  14  Social 
Center.  It  is  without  paid  supervision  and  is  simply  a  free  banding 
of  young  men  and  women  for  the  benefit  of  working  together  in  artistic 
expression  and  development.  Various  lines  of  activity  have  been  fol- 
lowed. The  cartoons  which  are  used  in  this  report  are  among  the  pro- 
ductions of  this  club. 


West    High    Social    Center    Orchestra. 

The  Spontaneous  Art  Club  is  the  only  Art  Club  which  has  been 
formed,  but  in  two  of  the  Social  Centers,  orchestras,  which  are  vir- 
tually musical  clubs,  have  been  organized.  The  one  at  No.  14  formed 
last  year  has  already  been  spoken  of.  The  one  which  was  formed  at 
the  West  High  Social  Center  on  January  isth,  io/O9r  under  the  lead- 
ership of  Prof.  Ludwig  Schenck,  is  large  and  growing.  It  makes  a 
contribution  to  the  Social  Center  life  at  West  High  similar  to  that  made 
by  the  orchestra  at  No.  14  the  first  season. 

In  addition  to  these  special  clubs  there  have  been  formed,  in  two 
of  the  Centers,  singing  clubs.  The  meetings  of  the  boys  on  Sunday 
afternoons  at  No.  14  are  practically  in  the  nature  of  singing  club  meet- 
ings. The  club  at  No.  9  made  up  of  young  women  has  much  the  same 
character. 

"A  city  divided  against  it- 
self shall  not  stand." 


104 


2.     GYMNASIUM. 


The  gymnasium  activities  which  were  carried  on  in  No.  14  Social 
Center  during  the  first  year  and  which  are  described  in  the  first  part 
of  this  report  have  been  continued  at  No.  14  through  the  second  year 
and  the  work  in  No.  9  and  West  High  has  been  carried  on  along  prac- 
tically the  same  lines.  In  West  High  Center  in  addition  to  the  activi- 
ties which  are  spoken  of  in  con- 
nection with  the  report  of  No.  14 
during  the  first  season,  three  spe- 
cial classes  have  been  conducted, 
one  in  fencing,  one  in  boxing  and 
one  in  wrestling.  There  has  nat- 
urally been  added  interest  to  the 
gymnasium  work  by  the  oppor- 
tunities which  the  organization 
of  two  new  Centers  have  given 
for  inter  Social  Center  games 
and  meets.  On  March  i  ith  there 
was  held,  at  No.  14,  a  meet  be- 
tween that  Center  and  No.  9.  As 
in  the  inter-club  debates,  the  feel- 
ing ran  high  but  nothing  more 
than  a  very  friendly  rivalry  was 
shown.  On  the  i8th  of  March  a 
meet  was  held  between  West 
High  and  No.  14  in  the  latter 's 
gymnasium,  and  there,  again,  the 
spirit  of  friendly  rivalry  was 
shown. .  A  triangular  meet  for 
the  Social  Center  Championship 


Dr.    Whittle    Making    a    Physical    Examination        Was   held   at    No.   9   On   the   9th   of 

April,   and   won  by  West   High 

Center.    There  have  also  been  inter-Center  meets  between  the  women's 
and  girls'  clubs  in  the  three  Social  Centers. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  well  to  speak  of  the  physical  exami- 
nations which  were  made  in  the  three  Social  Centers  during  the  months 
of  December  and  January.  Dr.  John  A.  Whittle,  who  has  charge  of 
the  general  clinic  of  the  Rochester  Public  Health  Association,  con- 

105 


sented  to  make,  without  remuneration,  physical  examinations  of  the 
people  who  use  the  gymnasiums,  \vith  the  following  results : 

At  No.  9,  of  thirty-eight  men  and  twenty  women  examined, 
thirteen  men  and  four  women  were  found  to  have  defective  teeth ;  four- 
teen men  and  four  women  needed  attention  as  to  tonsils  and  adenoids ; 
the  eyes  of  three  men  and  two  women,  the  ears  of  three  men,  the  noses 
of  eleven  men  and  three  women,  the  lungs  of  two  men  and  two  women, 
were  found  to  be  defective,  and  six  men  and  four  women  were  in  bad 
physical  condition  otherwise. 

At  No.  14,  of  twenty-four  men  and  eighteen  women  examined, 
the  teeth  of  seven  men  and  three  women,  the  throats  of  twelve  men 
and  ten  women,  the  eyes  of  two  men  and  one  woman,  the  ears  of  two 
men  and  four  women,  the  noses  of  six  men  and  five  women,  the  lungs 
of  two  men  and  three  women,  were  found  to  need  a  physician's  atten- 
tion, and  five  men  and  two  women  were  otherwise  in  bad  condition. 

In  West  High,  on  account  of  the  fact  that  Mr.  Silsby,  the  gym- 
nasium director,  took  charge  of  the  physical  examination  of  the  men, 
only  the  women  were  examined  by  Dr.  Whittle.  Of  twenty  of  these, 
the  teeth  of  five,  the  throats  of  nine,  the  eyes  of  two,  the  ears  of  three, 
the  nose  of  one,  were  found  in  bad  condition,  and  six  were  suffering 
from  miscellaneous  ailments.  A  comparison  of  these  records  will  showr 
that  the  physical  condition  of  the  people  in  the  several  sections  of  the 


The  West   High  Gymnasium  Is  Well   Equipped  for  the  Women's   Use  in  the   Social   Center. 

106 


city  is  not  very  different.  The  work  that  Dr.  Brittle  has  done  suggests 
the  value  of  a  Health  Advisor  in  connection  with  each  of  the  Social 
Centers.  His  presence  has  helped  toward  cleaner  physical  development, 
especially  among  the  boys. 

No  one,  who  has  visited  any  of  the  Social  Centers  and  seen  the 
gymnasium  activities  that  are  carried  on  there,  can  doubt  the  desira- 
bility of  this  form  of  community  co-operation  for  the  general  good. 

3.     LIBRARY. 

What  is  said  of  the  Library  and  Game  Room  in  the  report  on  th< 
first  year  in  No.  14  Social  Center  has  held  true  for  each  of  the  Socia 
Centers  during  this  second  year.  One  hundred  forty-five  person; 
have  made  continuous  use  of  the  library  at  No.  9,  one  hundred  thirty 
seven  of  that  at  No.  14  and  ninety-three  of  the  one  at  West  High 
The  magazines,  and  daily  papers  in  each  of  the  Centers  have  beer 
largely  used,  especially  on  Sundays.  The  table  games  have  also  con 


tinned  popular,  especially  for  the  boys'  and  girls'  clubs  during  the  perio< 
when  they  were  excluded  from  the  gymnasium.  A  beginning  has  beei 
made  in  the  organization  of  checker  and  chess  tournaments,  whicl 
have  added  interest  to  these  Social  Center  activities. 

4.     GENERAL  EVENINGS. 

The  provision  of  a  lecture  or  entertainment  on  one  evening  o 
each  week  at  which  both  men  and  women,  both  boys  and  girls  coul< 
meet  in  the  Social  Center,  has  been  continued  through  this  second  year 
In  the  report  on  the  first  year  the  series  of  programs  for  the  genera 
evenings  is  given.  The  following  is  the  list  of  programs  provided  a 
No.  9  during  the  second  year.  It  is  practically  the  same  series  whici 
has  been  given  in  each  of  the  Social  Centers. 

Nov.    7,   1908 — Opening  Evening,  addresses  by  Com.  Isaac  Adler  an 
Mr.  Lester  Fisher. 

107 


Xov.  14,   1908 — Address  by    Prof.    Kendrick   P.    Shedd   on   "How   to 

Make  a  City  Better." 
Xov.  21,  1908 — Address  by  Miss  Marie  Hofer  of  New  York  on  "The 

Folk  Dance  as  an  Expression  of  a  Nation's  Spirit" 
Nov.  28,  1908 — Address  by   Prof.   Howard  D.   Minchin  on   "Sound, 

Music  and  Noise/' 

Dec.     5,   1908 — Musical  Entertainment  given  by  Mr.  Guy  Ellis. 
Dec.    12,  1908 — Illustrated    lecture   by    Dr.    G.    W.    Goler,    "Sanitary 

Conditions  in  Rochester." 
Dec.    19,   1908 — Illustrated   lecture   by    Prof.    Kendrick    P.    Shedd   on 

"Holland." 
Dec.  26,   1908 — Address  by  Mrs.  W.  A.  Montgomery,  "The  Spirit  of 

the  Holidays/' 

Jan.      2,   1909 — Reading  of  "Monsieur  Beaucaire",  by  Prof.  Frazier. 
Jan.      9,   1909 — A  general  meeting,  addresses  by  Prof.  G.  M.  Forbes, 

Mr.  Lester  Fisher,  Mrs.  W.  A.  Montgomery  and 

others. 

Jan.    16,  1909 — Readings  by  Miss  Mabel   Powers. 
Jan.    23,   1909— Illustrated  lecture  by  Dr.   C.  A.   Barbour,  "Our  Na- 
tional Wonderland." 

Jan.    30,   1909 — -Lecture  by  Eugene  Wood,  "Why  and  Wherefore" 
Feb.     6,   1909 — Address  by  Prof.  Kendrick  P.  Shedd,  "The  Conquest 

of  the  Inevitable." 

Feb.    13,   1909 — Patriotic  evening,  addresses,  "Lincoln." 
Feb.  20,  1909 — Address  by  Rev.  A.  S.  Crapsey,  D.  D.,  "Automatic 

Government." 

Feb.  27,  1909 — Address  by  Edward  J.  Ward,  "Boston  and  the  Roch- 
ester Social  Center  Idea." 

Mar.    6,  1909— Prof.  W.  H.  Moore "The  Land  of  William  Tell" 

Mar.  13,  1909 — Illustrated    address    by    Mrs.    W.    A.   Montgomery, 

"Greece." 
Mar.  20,  1909 — Illustrated    address    by    Frank    C.    Dawley,    "Bird 

Neighbors." 
Mar.  27,   1909 — Lecture  by  Joseph   Cady  Allen,   "Much  Ado  About 

Nothing." 

Apr.     3,  1909 — Illustrated  address  by  Prof.  K.  P.  Shedd,  "Germany." 
Apr.  10,  1909 — Exhibition  debate  on  "The  Open  Shop." 
Apr.   17,  1909 — "Good  Bye  Evening,"  addresses  by  prominent  citizens. 

108 


The  total  attendance  at  these  "General  Evenings"  at  the  three 
Centers  this  year,  from  November  ist  to  April  I7th,  was  22,961,  ar 
average  attendance  for  each  evening  of  353.  In  all  there  have  beer 
65  lectures  or  entertainments  provided ;  of  these  42  have  been  fur- 
nished without  expense  to  the  city.  Not  more  than  ten  dollars  has 
been  paid  as  a  fee  for  any  lecture ;  in  addition  to  this  fee  it  has,  01 
course,  been  necessary  to  pay  the  traveling  expenses  of  those  speakers 
who  have  been  brought  here  from  out  of  town.  The'  total  cost,  aside 
from  the  lighting,  heat,  janitor  service  and  supervision,  of  these  gen- 
eral evenings  has  been  $291.70.  This  makes  the  cost  for  special  en- 
tertainment or  lectures  less  than  a  penny  and  a  quarter  per  attendance 

The  same  spirit  of  generous  co-operation  has  been  shown  during 
this  year,  not  only  by  those  who  have  given  their  services  free  o: 
charge,  but  also  by  those  who  have  received  a  fee,  for,  in  every  suet 
case,  the  service  has  been  given  at  a  fraction  of  the  usual  charge  foi 
such  service. 

Of  the  three  Centers,  No.  9  has  had  much  the  largest  attendance 
at  the  general  meetings.  Although  the  Assembly  Hall  there  will  ac- 
commodate a  thousand  people,  frequently  every  seat  has  been  taker 
and  on  several  occasions  numbers  have  been  turned  away. 

At  No.  14  the  attendance  has  been  reduced  from  that  of  lasi 
year  by  the  exclusion  of  school  children,  but  many  of  the  older  people 

have  expressed  their  greater  enjoy 
ment  of  the  quiet  that  has  come 
with  the  new  arrangement. 

At  West  High  the  series  oJ 
general  evenings  has  been  broken  b) 
the  High  School  activities,  whicl 
had  been  arranged  for  Thursda) 
evening  before  the  Social  Centei 
program  was  made  up. 

The  attractiveness  of  the  gen- 
eral evenings  has  been  greatly  in- 
creased, especially  at  No.  9,  by  the 
practice  of  following  the  lecture  or 

entertainment  by  either  a  basketball  game  or  athletic  exhibition,  or  £ 
free  social  hour,  but  the  greatest  addition  to  the  enjoyment  of  these 

109 


evenings  has  come  in  the  provision  of 
songs  in  which  the  people  present  have 
joined.  Books  containing  familiar  songs 
have  been  procured  and  lantern  slides 
made  of  such  as  "America",  ''Home 
Sweet  Home",  "Suwannee  River",  "The 
Old  Oaken  Bucket'',  etc.  In  addition  to 
this  a  number  of  Social  Center  songs, 
more  or  less  in  the  style  of  those  quoted 
in  connection  with  the  account  of  the 
Anniversary  Banquet  of  the  Men's  Civic 
Club,  have  been  used.  Several  of  these 
are  given  here  for  what  they  express  of  the  Social  Center  spirit. 


THE  SCHOOL   HOME 

Air  :     "Marching  Through  Georgia.'' 
I. 

Hearken  while  we  sing  to  you  a  new  and  wondrous  song ; 
Sing  you  of  a  remedy  to  help  the  world  along; 
Sing  it  with  a  spirit  that  shall  echo  from  Hong  Kong — 
The  So-cial  Cen-ter  for-ever! 

CHORUS  : 

Hurrah,  Hurrah,  the  School  Home  is  the  thing! 
Hurrah,  Hurrah,  we'll  laud  it  with  a  ring! 

The  people  own  the  School-House  and  the  people — They  are  King! 
The  So-cial  Cen-ter  for-ever! 

II. 

Once  we  thought  the  School-House  was  a  thing  to  shut  up  tight, 
When  the  daylight  yielded  to  the  shadows  of  the  night. 
Now  we  know  our  folly  and  we  cry :  "It  wasn't  right !" 
The  So-cial  Cen-ter  for-ever ! 


110 


III. 

Soon  as  School-Days  ended  then  we  left  the  place  for  aye. 
Said  good-by  forever,  for  they  "wouldn't  let  us  stay, 
Till  \ve  were  enlightened  and  we  found  another  way — 
The  So-cial  Cen-ter  for-ever! 

IV. 

Xow  when  evening  shadows  fall  the  School-Home  windows  shine, 
Then  our  friends  and  neighbors  all,  they  form  an  endless  line, 
And  flock  into  the  School-Home  where  the  Civic  Clubs  they  "jine." 
The  So-cial  Cen-ter  for-ever! 

Kendrick  P.  Shedd. 


WHAT   "SOCIAL   CENTER"   MEANS 

Air:     "Auld  Lang  Syne." 

ALL. 

Did  you  ever  stop  to  figure  out 
What  Social  Center  means? 
Here  you  will  find  democracy, 
Men— kings,  and  women — queens. 
Here,  each  one  can  express  his  thought; 
All  stand  on  equal  ground  ; 
Here  cliff' rences  are  all  forgot, 
Here,  Brotherhood  is  found. 

BOYS. 

We  boys,   who  used   to   waste   our  time 

On  corners  of  the  street, 

Now  turn  our  back  on  loafing — 

We've  a  better  place  to  meet ; 

A  place  where  we  can  build  ourselves, 

Our  body  and  our  mind ; 

And  we  will  surely  make  good  here. 

The  Center  pays ;  you'll  find. 

Ill 


GIRLS. 

We  girls,  who  used  to  pose  in  front 
Of  mirrors  half  the  day 
Xow  have  the  roses  in  our  cheeks 
Our  powder's  thrown  away, 
\Ye  know  that  brains  are  more  than  hats. 
That  heads  are  more  than  hair ; 
We're  here  because  we  mean  to  be 
L'seful,  as  well  as  fair. 

MEN. 

We  men  here  meet  without  constraint 
Real  questions  to  decide, 
To  face  the  common  enemy 
We  stand  here  side  by  side. 
Old  prejudice  is  on  the  run, 
Injustice  too,  shall  go. 
Why  Rochester  should  not  be  right 
To  us  you'll  have  to  show. 

WOMEN. 

We  women  count  as  human  here, 
We've  heads  as  well  as  heart 
In  solving  civic  problems  we 
Have  come  to  do  our  part. 
For  the  ideals  of  the  home, 
Expression  we  shall  find 
In  cleaner,  happier  city-life 
More  beautiful  and  kind. 
ALL. 

And  so  we've  told  you  what  to  us 
The  Social  Center  means ; 
Here  you  will  find  democracy, 
Men — kings,  and  women — queens. 
Here  each  one  can  express  his  thought. 
All  stand  on  equal  ground, 
Here  difFrences  are  all  forgot 
Here  Brotherhood  is  found. 

Ralph  Grosman. 

112 


THE  SOCIAL   CENTER   HOME 

Air:     "Oh,  Didn't  He  Ramble?" 

I. 
There  was  a  man  whose  noble  heart 

To  love  was  open  wide. 
He  sighed  to  see  the  clans  that  part, 

The  creeds  that  men  divide. 
He  wandered  forth  o'er  the  land  and  sea 

Throughout  the  world  he  roamed, 
To  find  a  spot  where  men  should  be 
Like  brothers  in  a  home., 

CHORUS  : 

Oh,  didn't  he  wander,  wander  ? 
He  braved  the  ocean's  foam  ; 
He  sped  from  York  to  Rome ; 
Oh,  yes,  he  wandered,  wandered. 
Until  he  found  the  SOCIAL  CENTER  HOME. 

II. 
He  saw  the  Gentile  and  the  Jew ; 

He  saw  the  great  and  small ; 
The  "masses"  and  the  "classes,"  too, 

With  fences  round  them  all. 
"Oh,  Lord,"  he  prayed,  "Give  me  to  find 

Upon  this  rolling  sphere 
The  place  wrhere  man  to  man  is  kind, 
And  let  me  linger  there !" 

CHORUS : 

III. 
Each  nation  had  its  symbol  fair; 

Each  party  owned  its  sign ; 
And  shells  went  shrieking  through  the  air 

To  prove  the  mine  and  thine. 
"Oh,"  cried  the  man  with  aching  heart, 

"And  shall  it  never  be 
That  men  will  drown  the  things  that  part 
In  one  fraternity?" 

CHORUS  :  Kendrick  P.  Shedd. 

113 


COME    ALONG 

Air:     "Dixie." 


I. 


Oh  !  I'm  so  happy  in  cle  Social  Center. 
Da's  de  place  1  lub  to  enter, 
Come  along, — come  on. 
Come  ovah  to  de  Center. 
Da's  a  place  da  fo'  my  mothah, 
Sistah.  fathah  an'  my  brothah. 
Come  along. — come  on. 
Come  ovah  to  de  Center. 

CHORUS : 

Come  ovah  to  de  Center 
Come  along, — come  on. 
I'll  tell  yon  what;  in  dat  ah  spot 
You'll  find  what  a  lot  o'  frens  you  got, 
Come  along, — come  on 
Come  ovah  to  de  Center. 

II. 

(  )h  !  If  yo'  fat  or  if  yo'  slim. 
You  alwavs  welcome  in  de  gvm. 
Come  along. — come  on. 
Come  ovah  to  de  Center. 
Ef  you  get  in  de  dumb-bell  drills 
Den.  you  won't  pay  no  doctah's  bills 
Come  along, — come  on, 
Come  ovah  to  de  Center. 
CHORUS: 

III. 

An'  ef  you  full  o'  quietude 
And  want  to  read  some  book 

dat's  good 

Come  along, — come  on. 
Come  ovah  to  de  Center. 
An  dis  yeh  verse  we'll  sing  it  low, 
As  to  de  readin'  room  we  go, 
Come  along, — come  on, 
Come  ovah  to  de  Center. 
CHORUS  : 


Professor    Ludwig    Schenck    Says    "There    Are 

Great    Possibilities    of    Popular    Musical 

Development  in  the  Social  Centers." 


IV. 

Oh !  da'  is  clubs  fo'  you  an'  me 
Da's  clubs  where- we  can  disagree. 
Come  along, — come  on, 
Come  ovah  to  de  Center. 
We  discuss,  dispute  an'  argufy 
But  we'll  lub  each  othah  twell  we  die. 
Come  along  with  me, 
I'm  goin'  to  de  Center. 

CHORUS : 

The  song,  however,  which  has  perhaps  been  most  popular  in  the 
Social  Centers  is  that  which  is  furnished  by  adapting  Edwin  Markham's 
poem  "Brotherhood"  to  the  air  "Die  Wacht  am  Rhine."  There  is  not 
only  the  great  swing  of  the  music  and  the  excellence  of  the  words  them- 
selves ;  but  the  thought  of  changing  a  war  song,  written  over  a  na- 
tional boundary  line,  into  a  peace  song  of  human  solidarity,  makes  this 
peculiarly  fitted  for  Social  Center  expression. 

BROTHERHOOD 

Air :     "Die  Wacht  am  Rhine." 

I. 

The  crest  and  crowning  of  all  good 
Life's  final  star  is  Brotherhood; 
For  it  will  bring  again  to  earth 
Her  long-lost  Poesy  and  Mirth 
'Twill  bring  new  light  to  every  face, 
A  kingly  power  upon  the  race ; 
And  till  it  come,  we  men,  we  men  are  slaves, 
And  travel  downward  to  the  dust  of  graves. 

II. 

Come,  clear  the  way,  then  clear  the  way, 
The  fear  of  kings  has  had  it's  day 
Break  the  dead  branches  from  the  path, 
Our  hope  is  in  the  aftermath, 
Our  hope  is  in  heroic  men 
Star-led  to  build  the  world  again, 
To  this  event  the  mighty  ages  ran, 
Make  way  for  Brotherhood ;  make  way  for  Man. 

Adapted  from  "Brotherhood,"  by  Ednuin  Markham. 

115 


Any  one  who  doubts  that  the  sentiment  of  Brotherhood  is 
more  than  a  surface  emotion  should  have  been  present  at  the  Good  Bye 
Evening  at  Xo.  9,  when  the  Civic  Clubs  there  presented  to  the  director 
of  the  Social  Center  a  beautiful  loving  cup  inscribed  with  these  words, 
"Have  we  not  all  one  father?  Hath  not  one  God  created  us?  Why 
shall  we  deal  treacherously  every  man  against  his  brother?" 

In  the  selection  of  the  speakers  and  programs  for  the  general  even- 
ings the  expressions  of  the  desires  of  the  community  have  been  wel- 
comed, but  the  control  has  been  in  the  hands  of  the  Board  of  Education, 
administered  through  the  Supervisor.  It  has  just  been  decided  by 
unanimous  vote  in  each  of  the  Social  Centers  that  the  General  Even- 
ing programs  shall  be  directly  in  the  hands  of  the  people  of  the  Social 
Centers  next  year.  At  Xo.  14  and  Xo.  9  the  general  evenings  of 
next  year  will  be  divided  between  the  clubs,  ten  to  be  taken  charge 
of  bv  the  Men's  Club,  nine  by  the  Women's  Club,  three  by  the 
Young  Men's  Club  and  three  by  the  Young  \Yomen's  Club.  At  \Yest 
High  it  has  been  decided  that  for  next  year  the  general  evenings  should 
be  held  twice  a  month  on  the  second  and  fourth  Thursdays.  Eour  of 
these  evenings  will  be  in  charge  of  the  Men's  Club,  four  in  charge  of 
the  Women's  Club  and  two  in  charge  of  each  of  the  younger  clubs. 
This  plan  is,  of  course,  in  harmony  with  the  Social  Center  idea  of  com- 
munity expression  through  the  use  of  the  school  buildings,  not  only  for, 
but  by  the  people. 

5.     ATTENDANCE. 

Xot  counting  the  attendance  of  the  partial  Social  Centers  or  clubs 
in  unequipped  school  buildings,  the  attendance  at  the  three  Social  Cen- 
ters, during  this  second  year,  from  Xovember  ist  to  April  I7th,  has 
been  55,  782.  The  attendance  by  Centers  and  months  has  been  as  fol- 
lows : 

Xo.  14. 

XTovember,    1908,     2,476    an  average  of  107 

December,    1908.     2,543    an  average  of  91 

January,        1909,     2,798    an  average  of  94 

February,     1909.     3,147    an  average  of  121 

March.          1909,     3,080    an  average  of  146 

April,             1909,     1,110   an  average  of  in 

Total  for  five  and  one  half  months,  15,154. 

116 


an 
an 
an 
an 
an 
an 

average 
average 
average 
average 
average 
average 

of 
of 
of 
of 
of 
of 

135 
165 
120 

75 
107 

"3 

West  High. 

November,  1908,  2,913 
December,  1908,  4,600 
January,  1909,  2,761 
February,  1909,  1,877 
March,  1909,  2,357 
April,  1909,  904 

Total  for  five  and  one  half  months,  14,621. 

Xo.  9. 

November,    1908.     3,618    an    average    of 

December,    1908,     4,731    an    average 

January,       1909,     5,709    an    average 

February,     1909,     4,628    an    average 

March,          1909,     3,790    an    average 

April.  1909,     3,531    an    average 

Total  for  five  and  one  half  months,  26,007. 

Of  this  total  attendance  22,961  was  for  the  general  evenings,  leav- 
ing the  remainder  to  include  the  attendance  in  club  meetings,  gymnas- 
ium, library,  etc.  Adding  to  this  the  attendance  of  276  at  the  meetings 
of  the  Men's  Club  at  No.  14  during  October  and  the  7,000,  which  is  a 
very  conservative  estimate  of  the  total  attendance  of  the  various  league 
and  club  meetings  outside  of  Social  Centers  (an  accurate  record  of  this 
independent  club  attendance  has  not  been  completely  kept)  we  get  a 
total  for  the  attendance  of  Social  Centers  and  Civic  Clubs,  for  the  sea- 
son of  63,058.  The  averages  are  found  by  dividing  the  total  attendance 


A  Swimming  Tank  Will  Be  a  Part  of  the  Equipment  of  No.  26  Next  Year. 

117 


by  the  number  of  periods  during  which  the  Social  Centers  have  actually 
been  in  operation  during  the  month.  This  attendance  is  about  equally 
divided  between  those  between  14  and  21  and  those  over  that  age.  The 
attendance  of  men  and  boys  has  been  about  one-third  larger  than  that  of 
women  and  girls. 

6.     COST. 

The  receipts  and  disbursements  for  Playgrounds,  Vacation  Schools 
and  Social  Centers  as  given  in  the  report  of  the  Board  of  Education  for 
1908  is  as  follows: 

Receipts. 

From    City $10,398  oo 

-  $10,398  oo 
Disbursements. 

I  'lax-grounds     $4,023  30 

Vacation    Schools    7^7  ^9 

Social   Centers    5,586  38 

$10,397  57 


Balance    43 

This  amount  of  $5,586.38  covers  the  expense  of  No.  14  Social 
Center  for  the  four  months  of  the  spring  of  1908,  which  was  $1,995.72 
and  the  expense  of  the  Social  Centers  at  No.  14,  West  High  and  No. 
9  through  November  and  December,  as  well  as  the  outside  Civic 
Clubs  during  the  fall  of  1908.  The  expense  of  maintaining  the 
social  work  in  the  public  Schools,  including  Social  Centers  and  inde- 
pendent clubs,  for  January,  February  and  March,  to  April  17,  1909, 
was  $5,102.85.  Putting  this  with  the  cost  of  three  Social  Cen- 
ters during  the  fall  we  have  a  total  expenditure  for  the  three  Cen- 
ters and  all  of  the  expenses  for  lighting,  heating  and  janitor  service, 
incidental  to  independent  clubs  in  school  buildings  of  $8,794.95. 
Comparing  this  figure  with  the  total  attendance  for  the  year  of  63,- 
058,  we  find  that  the  average  cost  during  this  second  year  has  been 
less  than  fourteen  cents  per  attendance.  This  includes  the  whole  ex- 
pense for  the  provision  of  gymnasium,  baths,  library,  games,  lectures, 
facilities  for  club  meetings,  supervision  and  expenses  for  lighting, 
heat,  janitor  service,  etc.  As  last  year,  the  cost  is  made  larger  by 
the  expense  of  securing  permanent  equipment  for  the  Social  Centers 
and  the  cost  in  proportion  to  the  attendance  is  larger  by  the  cutting 
down  of  that  attendance  through  the  exclusion  of  school  children. 

118 


IX 

INDICATIONS    OF    THE    SUCCESS    OF    THE 

EXPERIMENT  THROUGH   THE 

SECOND  YEAR 

The  first,  and  least  important,  indication  of  the  success  of  Roch- 
ester's experiment  in  the  development  of  Public  School  Social  Centers 
is  the  fact  that  other  cities,  learning  of  the  Rochester  plan,  are  start- 
ing movements  to  follow  the  example  of  this  city. 

The  chairman  of  the  School  Extension  Committee,  which  was 
responsible  for  the  beginning  of  the  Social  Center  movement,  not  long 
ago  visited  the  city.  Before  one  of  the  Civic  Clubs  he  said,  "The 
success  that  Rochester  is  making  of  it's  Social  Centers  will  mean 
that  other  cities  will  take  Rochester  for  an  example  and  pattern." 

In  February  the  supervisor  of  Social  Centers  was  invited  to  give 
several  addresses  on  the  movement,  in  Boston  and  Cambridge. 
Word  has  recently  been  received  from  the  secretary  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Civic  League,  that  as  a  result  of  the  presentation  of  the  Roch- 
ester idea  of  Social  Centers  and  Civic  Clubs,  there  is  a  movement  in 
the  City  of  Boston  to  develop  similar  work  to  that  which  is  done  in 
Rochester. 

In  March,  in  response  to  repeated  and  urgent  invitations,  the  su- 
pervisor addressed  several  audiences  in  Philadelphia  on  Rochester's 
Social  Center  and  Civic  Club  experience.  Recently  one  of  the  leaders 
in  municipal  activities  in  Philadelphia,  whose  interest  had  been  roused, 
came  to  Rochester  and  after  visiting  several  Social  Centers  and  in- 
specting their  methods,  he  said  publicly,  "It  is  our  ambition  to  have 
such  Social  Centers  as  these  in  Rochester." 

The  visit  of  the  delegation  of  thirty-one  persons  from  Buffalo  on 
the  1 4th  of  December  has  been  mentioned.  As  a  result  of  that 
visit  an  organization  called  the  "Buffalo  Social  Center  Association" 
has  been  formed  with  the  definite  purpose  of  copying  the  Rochester 
plan.  On  January  23rd  and  24th  the  Superintendent  of  Education 
of  Buffalo  visited  the  Rochester  Social  Centers.  On  the  afternoon  of 
the  24th,  before  the  Italian  Men's  Civic  Club  at  No.  14,  he  said:  "I 
have  recently  returned  from  a  trip  to  Europe  which  I  took  to  see  the 
educational  systems  and  the  development  of  the  Public  Schools. 
What  I  saw7  at  one  of  your  Social  Centers  last  night,  and  what  I  have 
been  seeing  here  to-day,  lead  me  to  think  that  here  in  America  there 

119 


are  some  developments  as  worthy  of  copying  as  anything  in  Europe. 
1  came  to  Rochester  unannounced,  because  I  wanted  to  see  your 
Social  Centers  in  their  usual  activities  and  not  on  parade.  They  seem 
to  be  successful  and  popular.  The  City  of  Buffalo  means  to  be  pro- 
gressive and  we  are  ready  to  copy  anything  that  seems  to  be  an  im- 
provement. I  think  that  we  shall  copy  this  idea  from  Rochester." 

The  opinions  of  distinguished  visitors,  who  are  familiar  with 
the  municipal  activities  in  other  cities,  are  possibly  next  in  importance 
as  means  of  judging  the  success  of  this  experiment.  Chief  among 
these,  of  course,  has  been  Governor  Hughes,  whose  statement  is 
quoted  above.  The  opinion  of  Prof.  Charles  Zeublin,  who  perhaps 
more  than  anv  other  man  is  familiar  with  municipal  developments  in 
this  country  and  in  Europe,  has  already  been  mentioned.  On  January 
1 2th,  Dr.  W.  D.  P.  Bliss  of  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Commerce 
and  Labor,  visited  the  Social  Centers  and  attended  one  Men's 
Civic  Club  meeting.  As  the  author  of  the  "Encyclopedia  of  Social 
Reform,"  as  well  as  on  account  of  his  position  as  Government 
Investigator,  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Bliss  may  be  taken  as  that  of  an  ex- 
pert, lie  said,  "In  no  city  with  which  I  am  familiar  in  this  country 
or  in  Europe  is  there  any  movement  which  is  so  widely  representative 
of  every  class  and  interest  in  the  municipality  as  is  this  Social  Center 
and  Civic  Club  movement  in  Rochester.  I  understand  that  the  spirit 
of  these  Centers  and  Civic  Clubs  is  social  exchange  and  acquaintance- 
ship and  co-operation,  instead  of  the  service  of  one  part  of  the  com- 
munity by  another.  This  is  a  new,  fine  ideal." 

The  most  important  endorsement  of  the  Social  Centers  and 
Civic  Clubs,  from  the  point  of  view  of  their  continued  existence,  is 
that  of  the  Board  of  Education,  under  whose  supervision  the  work 
is  conducted.  Considering  the  conservative  spirit  which  the  Board 
of  Education  manifested  in  the  beginning  of  the  Social  Center  move- 
ment, the  fact  that  the  Board  has  this  year  recommended  that  a  fund 
should  be  appropriated  which  will  make  it  possible  that  the  work  be 
not  only  maintained,  but  extended,  next  season,  may  be  taken  as  a 
strong  endorsement.  The  recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Education 
was  supported  by  the  Civic  Betterment  Committee  as  well  as  by  a  num- 
ber of  other  representative  organizations,  not  affiliated  with  that  body. 
An  appropriation  double  that  of  last  year  has  been  made  this  spring  by 
the  Common  Council  for  this  fund. 

But,  while  the  movements  of  other  cities  to  imitate  the  Rochester 

120 


plan  suggest  the  wider  meaning  of  the  success  of  this  experiment, 
while  the  opinion  of  distinguished  visitors  is  of  great  value,  and  while 
the  approval  of  the  Board  of  Education  is  absolutely  necessary  for 
the  continuance  of  this  movement,  the  persons,  whose  estimation 
counts  for  most  of  all  are,  first,  those  who  are  closest  to;  and,  second, 
those  who  are  in,  the  Social  Centers  and  Civic  Clubs. 

The  Principals  of  the  Schools  in  which  Social  Centers  are  estab- 
lished are  among  the  best  judges  of  their  worth,  for  the  School 
Buildings  were  constructed  primarily  for  the  education  of  the  children, 
and  if  the  Social  Center  development  were  to  mean  injury  to  the  day 
school  activities  or  lessening  that  prime  service,  nothing  could  justify 
their  existence.  For  this  reason,  the  statement  of  the  Principals  of 
the  two  Grammar  Schools,  in  which  Social  Centers  have  been  main- 


The  Women's  Civic  Club  at  West   High   Sometimes   Invites   the   Men  to  Their  Meetings. 

tained,  regarding  the  effects  of  the  use  of  the  School  Building  for  this 
purpose  upon  the  work  of  the  day  school  children,  is  important.  Ac- 
cording to  their  statement  the  effects  are  three.  First,  the  fitting  of 
the  building  with  gymnasium  apparatus,  stereopticon  lantern  and  other 
equipment  incidental  to  its  use  as  a  Social  Center,  adds  equipment 
which  may  be  used  for  the  day  school.  Second,  the  effect  upon  the 
children,  especially  the  boys  in  the  schools,  of  having  the  older  boys 
and  young  men,  to  whom  they  naturally  look  as  examples,  spending 
their  time  in  the  evening  in  the  school  building  instead  of  on  the  street 
corner,  is  perceptibly  good.  Third,  the  use  of  the  school  building  as 
a  community  gathering  place  to  which  people  come,  not  per  force,  but 
because  they  enjoy  doing  so,  tends  to  develop  in  the  school  children 
an  entirely  new  idea  of  the  privilege  which  is  theirs  in  using  these 
buildings. 

121 


Second,  the  people  who  live  in  the  neighborhoods,  where  Social 
Outers  and  Civic  Clubs  have  been  established,  are  the  best  judges  of 
their  value.  On  January  9th,  1909.  in  No.  9  Social  Center  was  held  a 
mass  meeting  to  consider  the  question  of  whether  the  work  should 
be  maintained  and  extended  through  the  coming  year.  The  assembly 
hall  will  accommodate,  by  using  standing  room  as  well  as  seats,  over 
a  thousand.  The  night  was  stormy,  rain  and  sleet  filled  the  air  and 
the  walking  could  not  have  been  worse,  yet  every  inch  of  space  was 
rilled,  and  there  were  people  turned  away  for  whom  there  was  not 
room.  In  opening  the  meeting  the  President  of  the  Men's  Club,  a 
man  who  had  been  intimately  associated  with  the  work  from  its,  begin- 
ning, said:  "Through  the  Social  Centers  and  Civic  Clubs  we  have  «. 


A  Debate  on  Woman  Suffrage  Was  the  Program  of  the  No.   23  Men's  Civic   Club  Meeting  of 
May  3.     For  Such  Programs  Women  Are,   of  Course,   Invited. 

vehicle  for  bringing  matters  to  the  very  doors  of  the  people.  The 
response  in  Rochester  is  marked  and  there  is  developing  a  civic  pride 
and  an  interest  in  this  city  that  is  bound  to  place  Rochester  in  the 
fore  among  the  cities  of  the  country."  Leaders  of  the  community  life 
were  among  the  speakers ;  however  it  was  not  their  words  alone,  but 
the  enthusiasm  with  which  their  endorsement  of  the  Social  Centers 
was  received  that  expressed  the  true  feeling  that  those  who  are  re- 
sponsible for  the  Social  Center's  success  have  toward  it. 

While  neither  at  Xo.  14  nor  at  West  High  has  a  mass  meeting 
been  held,  in  each  of  these  Centers  there  have  been  unanimous  expres- 
sions of  a  desire  for  the  work  to  continue. 

Hut  these  formal  expressions  of  the  people  concerning  the  value 

122 


of  the  Social  Centers  and  Civic  Clubs  do  not  mean  so  much  as  the 
spontaneous  expressions  of  approval  of  the  idea,  which  have  been 
called  forth  from  individuals  and  groups ;  now  in  a  Social  Center  gym- 
nasium, where  young  fellows  enjoy  physical  exercise  amid  wholesome 
environment,  or  in  one  of  the  Coming  Club  meetings  when  a  debate 
\vas  progressing;  now  in  the  midst  of  a  social  hour  at  the  close  of 
some  lecture  or  entertainment,  or  again,  in  the  midst  of  an  earnest  dis- 
cussion in  some  Men's  or  Women's  Civic  Club. 

There  have  been  criticisms ;  indeed,  the  strongest  guarantee  of  the 
character  of  the  Social  Center  is  it's  openness  to  criticism,  but  these 
criticisms  have  been  of  method  and  of  detail.  No  person,  who  has 
visited  a  Social  Center  or  attended  a  Civic  Club,  has  yet  been  heard  to 
express  anything  but  approval  of  the  idea.  And  almost  always  there 
has  been  in  the  expression  of  approval  a  suggestion  of  wonder  that 
this  larger  use  of  the  School  Buildings  has  not  before  been  made  in  the 
city,  a  suggestion,  even  on  the  part  of  those  who  were  themselves 
born  in  the  city  and  who  have  always  lived  there,  that  this  is  just  an 
expression  here  of  the  spirit  of  community  interest,  the  neighborly 
-spirit,  the  democracy  that  we  knew  in  the  evening  gatherings  in  the 
little  red  school  house  back  home. 

The  other  evening  in  one  of  the  Social  Centers  a  man  said : 
"Won't  it  be  home-like  when  other  cities  take  up  this  idea.  One  will 
always  know  that  there  is  a  friendly,  interesting  place  not  far  away 
where  he  can  spend  an  evening,  a  place  where  class  and  race  lines, 
religious  and  political  differences  don't  count,  where  people  are  just 
'folks'  meeting  on  common  ground  in  the  common  interest." 


Why  wear  the  mask  of  pettiness, 
Why  pretend  that  we  are  small, 

When  the  honest  heart  of  each  of  us 
Encompasses  us  all? 


123 


Coming  Civic  Club  Annual  Debate  Trophy 
Won,  This  Year,   by  No  9. 


A     000084549 


